Financial abuse risk at Co Kildare nursing home - HIQA
Residents at a Co Kildare nursing home were at risk of financial abuse according to HIQA, when service fees were charged by a provider without being "clearly outlined".
A nursing home in County Kildare may pose a risk of financial abuse to its residents due to unclear charging practices, according to a recent inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). During the inspection, residents were billed for services like hairdressing that were not clearly outlined in their contracts of care.
The provider admitted that their practices did not ensure that all services and associated fees complied with residents' contracts. Additionally, the inspection revealed that four out of six staff had started employment at the facility before completing their mandatory garda vetting checks. HIQA's chief inspector issued an urgent action and required assurance that all staff had current vetting disclosures.
A compliance plan was submitted but deemed insufficient, prompting a second inspection day to confirm that no staff operated without proper vetting. This particular inspection is part of a larger batch of 50 reports on residential facilities for older individuals. One such home in County Clare was found non-compliant in 13 out of 15 regulations, with concerns ranging from infection control to staffing.
The HIQA report highlights the need for stronger infection-control measures, including the establishment of an outbreak control team, enhanced PPE training, and improved cleaning and laundry processes. While 22 of the 50 facilities inspected were fully or substantially compliant with regulations, issues persist in the remaining centers.
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