HIQA report raises staffing issues at St Oliver’s Nursing home

HIQA inspectors who visited St Oliver Plunkett Nursing Home in Dundalk in January raised concerns over staffing levels which sees the unit operating below capacity.

The unannounced inspection carried out on January 3 2019, found that the unit has been unable to operate at full capacity of 63 residents due to staff shortages. As a result of delayed staff recruitment and replacement, the provision of staff for up to 60 residents was heavily reliant on agency staff.

On the day of the inspection there were 58 residents being accommodated, 56 onsite and two were in hospital. There were St. Cecilia’s which accommodates up to 44 residents and St. Gerard’s (the dementia specific unit) which accommodates up to 19 residents. While there were adequate staff numbers and skill mix during the inspection, it noted that ‘deficiencies between the planned and actual staff roster existed resulting in a depletion in the determined skill mix and staff numbers required to meet the assessed needs of residents.’

The report also noted that ‘ a high percentage (71%) of care attendant staff working in the 44 bedded unit during this inspection were contracted from an external provider (agency staff ).’

Overall, the report was positive saying that the centre ‘provides a good and valued service to residents accommodated on a long and short term basis, but some improvements were required to ensure its sustainability to comply with the Health Act 2007.’

The inspector spoke to residents who were ‘positive with regard to the control they had in their daily lives and the choices that they could make’ and also praised entertainment provided, parties facilitated and fun experienced over the recent Christmas period, and were satisified with the food.

‘In particular, residents were happy with the support and assistance provided by staff and management and felt safe and secure in the centre.’

Staff had good access to mandatory training and to education and information to meet the needs of residents. Staff members were sufficiently knowledgeable regarding operational policies and residents care plans. However, some gaps in staff training were identified.

The HSE issued a statement noting that: ‘Of the 20 outcomes which St. Oliver’s were inspected against, 15 were deemed compliant. The remaining 5 were substantially compliant. Updates and improvements have been undertaken in the areas identified as substantially compliant and monitoring will continue locally to maintain our high standard of care for residents.’

It said that ‘ The national shortage of nurses has impacted on recruiting nurses for St. Oliver s and a number of vacancies remain unfilled. The inspection took place on a day in the peak holiday period and contracted staff were providing cover for annual leave also. There were no findings with regard to deficits in the numbers of staff on the day.’

‘St Oliver’s continue to contract staff from an outside agency, to maintain continuity of care for our residents every effort is made to have the same contracted staff working within the Unit on an ongoing basis.

Cllr. Anne Campbell, chairperson of the Friends of St Oliver’s, said there was plenty of positive news in the report, but she remained concerned by the high proportion of agency staff being used, which means the facility is not being used to full capacity.

‘ This situation is not unique to St Oliver’s, which is the only nursing home run by the HSE in Dundalk. It is up to the HSE to prioritise the recruitment of staff for St Oliver’s and to use all their resources to advertise all the available positions to ensure the filling of the jobs.

‘ The use of agency staff across the entire health service is a huge issue, particularly in Louth, and proves to ultimately more costly in the long run than recruiting staff directly’.