HIQA finds pests in Cork Ipas centre room

Pests were found in a resident bedroom during a recent Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspection of an International Protection Accommodation Service centre in West Cork.

Clonakilty Lodge was compliant in 23 areas, substantially compliant in two, partially compliant in one, and not compliant in one. While the inspection found high levels of compliance overall, an urgent compliance plan was issued to the provider in relation to pest control.

All of the residents spoken with were very complimentary of the service and the facilities in the centre, telling inspectors that the staff were “very good at listening” to their needs and making sure they had what they needed in their rooms.

While all of the rooms observed were clean and tidy, the inspectors were made aware by the occupants of one room that there was an issue with pests. This was observed by inspectors on the day of the inspection.

“While there were pest control arrangements in place in the centre, these had not been extended beyond communal areas, and the risk of pests being present in residents’ bedrooms had not been adequately assessed,” said the inspectors.

They reviewed records on pest management, resident feedback, and maintenance, and found there was no prior record of this concern.

The provider committed to a full review of the concerns raised, and submitted an urgent compliance plan shortly after the inspection, outlining a comprehensive plan to address this issue and to improve monitoring systems.