A report criticising the level of care offered to patients at the Sacred Heart Hospital has been condemned by Castlebar Fine Gael town councillor and former mayor, Cllr Ger Deere, who stated that the report published in the national media this week was being “used as an excuse to close down the Sacred Heart”.
The Sacred Heart Hospital provides long and short term geriatric care for up to 300 patients and is divided into six units, one of which is now a specialised Alzheimers care unit. A two bed palliative care unit also operates in the hospital.
The Sacred Heart Hospital has 166 beds, 36 of which are allocated to rehabilitation patients with the remainder being for long stay residential care. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy is provided to inpatients and outpatients. There is a designated day care centre which caters for an average of 40 patients per day.
Defending staff services at the Sacred Heart Hospital, following the critical 63 page report by HIQA, the Health Information and Quality Authority, Cllr Deere stated: “The report refers to an inspection carried out at the Sacred Heart Hospital last May. It stated that some residents at the hospital were not given rehabilitation after suffering strokes and did not have adequate access to speech and language therapy.
“The report also said patients with pressure sores were not given adequate treatment and that governance was weak in a number of areas.
“The HSE West says the Sacred Heart Hospital is continuing to address all of the issues raised in the report and, as of last month, many of the matters have been dealt with while some targets have been identified for this year 2012. The HSE will be working to ensure the completion of each of the action points and confirms the hospital will continue to work with HIQA to ensure the highest standards of patient care are implemented.
“HIQA carried out a further inspection of the Sacred Heart Hospital in November 2011 but this has not yet been published. Both reports should have been published together as the HIQA report published in the national media this week is unbalanced.”
The provider of Sacred Heart Hospital, HSE West, also issued a response to the HIQA report relating to the Sacred Heart Hospital as follows:
“The report relates to an inspection that was carried out at the beginning of May 2011.
“Since the inspection in May, there was a subsequent visit by HIQA in November 2011 and the provider and director of nursing have also met with HIQA relating to the Sacred Heart Hospital. The report, as published, has included the response from the HSE to the various action points contained in the report.
“The provider, director of nursing, and senior staff at the hospital are continuing to address all of the issues raised in the report and as of December 2011, many of these matters have been dealt with. Some of the targets are identified for 2012 and the HSE will be working to ensure the completion of each of the action points. The hospital will continue to work with HIQA to ensure that the highest standards of patient care are implemented.”
The HIQA report did carry some positive comments regarding the Sacred Heart Hospital, including the fact that there is ample car parking close to the main entrance and also noted:
“Fifteen residents and 14 relatives completed questionnaires prior to the inspection. Inspectors met and spoke with many other residents and relatives during the inspection. They were mainly positive about their experiences of living in and visiting the centre.
“Relatives reported all staff as being respectful and kind even when ‘they are under stress due to work pressure and demands’. Some relatives expressed concern over the availability of staff, especially in the evening and at night time.
“Residents were aware that if they had a concern or complaint they could approach the person in charge or a staff member and were able to name the staff member. Relatives stated that they felt welcome when visiting.
“One relative stated, ‘I can visit any time during the day and late into the evening’ and confirmed that they were kept well informed of their relative’s condition and health. Some told inspectors that the days were long and there were a lot of days when they have very little to do to use the time. Inspection findings concurred with this.”
The full report can be viewed online on the HIQA website.
