Care home flagged for fire safety risks during building works in recent inspection
The report was published by HIQA.
A recent inspection of the Comeragh Residential Services care home in Waterford City found that although the centre provides residents with person-centred care, there were "significant" safety risks being ignored in the centre.
The inspection, which took place on Monday, May 18, was an unannounced risk inspection carried out by two HIQA inspectors, following an announced inspection earlier this year.
The prior inspection, which took place in February this year, found poor levels of compliance in governance and management, staffing and medicines management at the centre.
During the most recent inspection in May this year, residents were relaxed and enjoyed being in the staff's company, according to the HIQA report.
The report also stated that the four residents in the care home spoke positively about the staff team and told the inspectors that they were very happy in the centre.
Although staffing was a major concern in the prior report, the most recent inspection revealed the centre increased its evening and weekend support staff to accommodate for these concerns.
The inspectors noted that residents could now exercise greater control over their everyday life and had "real choice regarding how they spent their time at evenings and weekends" and that the core staff team and regular relief staff at the centre were providing the residents with a good consistency of care.
The report also noted that the previous concerns over safeguarding within the care centre had also been corrected.
Inspectors had previously stated that an open formal safeguarding plan could not be applied in the centre due to the low staff numbers and the lack of a laptop for staff at the care home.
At the time of the most recent inspection, however, inspectors found that both of these concerns had been addressed with the additional staff now in place and a laptop available in the centre.
Although the centre was found compliant in most criteria of inspection, the inspectors marked the centre as non-compliant in relation to risk management procedures.
At the time of the inspection, the report noted, the care home was undergoing some building works that presented "significant" risks to the wellbeing of the residents and staff.
Inspectors noted two smoke detectors, in the apartment undergoing building works, had been covered by rubber gloves that were taped in place, presenting a high fire safety risk as the smoke alarms would not operate as required in that condition.
The report stated the risk was removed immediately by the person in charge when the risks were pointed out.
Further safety risks were flagged outside the care home, as paving along one side of the house had been dug up, creating a safety risk should residents exit through the side door or use the door as an emergency exit, which it is designated as.
The report found that the holes and uneven pathway here had not been risk assessed considering the building works, nor had the safety of residents moving internally through this part of the building been properly assessed.
Guidelines were presented to the person in charge to ensure that these safety risks were managed appropriately and were due to be dealt with no later than May 30.
