NAZARETH HOUSE has got close to a 'clean bill of health' after a recent follow-up visit by the statutory Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
Seven of eight improvements identified during a visit two years earlier had been completed, states a HIQA inspection report released on Tuesday afternoon (19 June).
The facility would have hit the bullseye on all targets except that Garda vetting reports were still outstanding on three staff.
The 15-page report also confirms that Nazareth House sought permission from HIQA last January to vary its certificate of registration, to increase its accommodation from 50 to 60 residents.
Phased BasisThis increase would be done on a phased basis, HIQA was told: ''Any increase in the number of residents would be supported by a continuous review to ensure a suitable staffing level and skill-mix is maintained."
The inspection describes Nazareth House Management Ltd as a voluntary organisation whose Board of Directors is chaired by Pat Gaughan. He is the former Deputy CEO of the North Western Health Board (now HSE).
HIQA's report describes the current Nazareth House facility as having opened in 2007 to accommodate 50 people, including those with dependency and long term care requirements.
The Person in Charge is Suzanne Keenan. On the day of the inspection staff numbers on duty also included six nurses, ten care staff, six catering staff, five cleaning and laundry staff, two admin staff, plus a maintenance person and a groundskeeper.
Smoking RoomThe inspection in January last was announced beforehand and its purpose was to follow up on eight requirements which HIQA had identified in a previous inspection, in May 2010.
The key findings from the previous inspection identified improvements were required in obtaining Garda vetting for all staff, providing thermostat controls to all hot water points, and agreeing Care Plans in consultations wth the residents or their representatives.
Provision of a smoking room for residents had also been identified in 2010. However, there were no residents who smoked on the date of HIQA's the January 2012 visit.
In 2010, HIQA had also sought "training of staff in medication management, behaviours that challenge and end of life care."
This week's report said that "overall, the inspector found evidence of a commitment by the provider and Person in Charge to continually work to improve the quality of the service that residents received."
Not AlarmedRecords reviewed by HIQA in 2012 indicated that all staff had received mandatory training required by regulation in adult protection, fire safety and save moving/handling of residents. A total of 33 staff had received training in end of life care.
The January inspection was led by HIQA inspector PJ Wynne and lasted approx 6.5 hours.
Under the 2012 heading "Risk Management," HIQA noted that doors within residents' bedrooms to the external grounds weren not alarmed to alert staff if the resident left the cente unescorted. In response, Nazareth House said all such doors areblocked and have to be opened by staff.
Safe moving and handling practices were observed by the Inspectror throughout the day of the 2012 visit, HIQA later noted.
HIQA described the facility as "bright, clean and modern," with mature landscaped gardens and ample car parking, including a number designated for disabled people.
Facilities described in the report include: an oratory, coffee shop, hair salon, art gallery, library, private visitors room with combined sitting room/dining rooms on ground and first floor.
Footnote: the online version of the Inspector's Report appears to be incorrectly dated, January 2011, for an inspection carried out in January 2012.
Link to Nazareth House inspection report (369):
http://www.hiqa.ie/social-care/find-a-centre/inspection-reports
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