Unfavourable HIQA report on Galtee View House

A HIQA report on Galtee View House, Limerick from October 2021 has been published, showing the centre was lacking in some significant areas at the time of the inspection, which were addressed afterwards.

The centre is run by St Joseph’s Foundation, and the unannounced inspection took place over two consecutive days.

The centre, which caters for 10 residents, mainly provides care and support to residents who have high support needs. The report found large rooms, comfortably furnished, and in a ‘tranquil setting’, with large garden spaces. It noted that mealtimes were unhurried and were a ‘sociable and enjoyable event’. Activities were scheduled each day, and on the day of the visit, a beauty therapy session was in progress for both male and female residents, who appeared to be enjoying it and ‘happy to participate’.

Unfortunately, the report noted that when residents expressed a wish to go out in the community and get involved, that this wish was not actively ‘ developed or delivered’. The inspector found that this did not demonstrate the rights and freedoms of the resident, and noted that there was ‘no evidence’ that the residents’ wishes were actively followed up on. Following the inspection, the centre improved the logging of requests, and set aside more time for residents’ activities.

The centre had recently got a new vehicle that could accommodate two residents in their wheelchairs. However, some staff were not confident driving it as it was an automatic transmission. Post-inspection, management organised driving lessons for staff. In terms of record-keeping, the inspector found ‘ significant gaps’ in the completion of records, as well as a Norovirus management plan that had not been updated since 2015. This was amended following the inspection.

The report also found significant issues with regard to cleanliness, including faeces on a wall and handrail. On the second day of the inspection, an ‘ attempt’ had been made to clean the walls, but not the other areas. Hair and dirt were found in the bath tub, including the assisted bath chair.

Shared equipment, like the exercise bike, was not included in the daily or weekly cleaning schedules, and out-of-date medical products were stored alongside those in-date. A ‘ deep clean’ was needed in kitchen cupboards, the fridge, and the shower-bath.

Issues were also found in the sluice room, where the centre used a reusable urine bottle and inserts for the commode. However, there was no hot water in the sluice room, and staff had to manually sluice the products. The report noted there was a risk as no disinfection would mean cross-contamination. Following the visit, the centre had a plumber install hot water into the sluice room.

Cleaning checklists were reviewed following the visit, and the regular cleaning schedule would be checked daily by the senior staff nurse on duty, with spot checks by the person in charge weekly.