Galway Bay FM Newsroom – A city-based care home for people with disabilities claims most of the improvements recommended by HIQA in a damning inspection report have already been implemented.
During a recent announced inspection of the Cheshire care home at Curragrean, Merlin Park, HIQA found four areas of major non-compliance with national quality standards.
There were nine residents in the centre, which is run by The Cheshire Foundation, when it was visited by a HIQA inspector in July.
The inspection was originally intended to be a registration check before the inspector discovered serious risks, and was then joined by a second HIQA official.
During the inspection, a resident with a neurological condition told HIQA that staff had wrapped them in a fire blanket and put a cigarette in their mouth when they wanted to smoke.
The resident’s condition meant they could not move their arms, and the blanket was found to be covered in cigarette burns.
The facility was also described as ‘not fire safe,’ and two ant infestations were found in residents’ apartments.
Residents also raised concerns about behaviour of some staff members, claiming they were ‘treated like a baby,’ or with disrespect.
In addition the inspectors found that bedroom windows did not offer sufficient privacy, residents did not always received their prescribed medication and some medication that was NOT prescribed was found in residents’ apartments.
Residents were also found to have resorted to threats such as refusing to eat or get out of bed in a bid to change the behaviour of staff.
HIQA issued the facility with a number of actions to be taken to remedy the various risks that existed.
In a statement, the Cheshire home says HIQA has accepted a comprehensive programme of improvements compiled by the facility’s management.
It says the majority of actions recommended by HIQA have already been implemented.