Issues identified by Hiqa at North Cork nursing home are being addressed

The manager of a Mallow nursing home is to have more input into the facility this year, the HSE has said, after Hiqa expressed concern about their lack of onsite presence in a recent inspection report.

The majority of feedback provided to the inspector with regards quality of care and the activities available to them in Mount Alvernia Hospital was positive, with residents saying that they felt supported by kind and respectful staff.

However, issues related to the premises were raised by inspectors, who found the nursing home compliant in nine areas, substantially compliant in four and not compliant in another four.

Staff were not placing call bells near residents who were in their bedrooms during the day, ensuring that they could contact staff if they required assistance, inspectors said.

Additionally, while the person in charge had telephone access to the general manager, and attended off-site North Cork management team meetings once a month, the overall manager was not on-site regularly to provide oversight and management to the centre, which was a repeat finding.

Inspectors also noted concerns about the premises itself – a visitors' room had a computer and console table stored there, which encroached on the floor space for residents to receive visitors.

Service lift out of order 

The service lift remained out of order, a repeat finding over two inspections, and wear and tear was observed on paintwork and floor surfaces, while a communal shower room was unable to be used by residents as the shower was broken.

Action was also required in terms of fire safety, as two fire doors were prevented from fully closing by obstacles holding them open and a store room was cluttered and had both electrical equipment and soft furnishings which could pose an increased risk of fire.

The HSE told Hiqa after the inspection that following a review, all call bells were within reach of residents, staff are aware that putting obstacles in the way of fire doors is not appropriate, the store room had been decluttered, the computer had been removed from the visitors' room.

There is also now a plan to replace the floor surfaces as part of a maintenance programme, to ensure that painting and flooring issues are addressed.

The HSE added that the person in charge has phone access to the manager at all times, and can request face-to-face meetings whenever necessary, but that the manager “will have a greater input into the centre for 2026”.