Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty has welcomed confirmation from the HSE that a number of measures and key actions have been introduced at Ard Gréine Court in Stranorlar to address a recent damning HIQA report which found serious incidences of regulatory non-compliance at the centre which cares for adults with intellectual disabilities.
In a reply to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Deputy Doherty, the HSE has stated that it has now taken a number of steps at the centre aimed at delivering service improvements including additional staff training, the conducting of random spot checks, the reviewing of centre practices in response to resident behaviour as well as new control measures to minimise patient risk.
Welcoming the HSE’s response, Deputy Doherty said: “The publication in August of the latest HIQA inspection into services at Ard Gréine Court raised a number of very serious questions surrounding practices at the unit which inspectors felt posed a genuine risk to the welfare and safety of residents and staff there.
“The report at the time identified serious failings in terms of centre governance and management, deficits and gaps in staff training, as well a number of incidences of major non-compliance with respect to national protocols and guidelines.
“Immediately following its publication, I raised the HIQA findings with the Minister for Health and asked what measures were being taken to remedy and address the many shortcomings in the care being provided to patients at Ard Gréine which HIQA inspectors found during their visit earlier this year.
“I have now been provided with an update of those measures by the HSE and the many steps which are now being taken to help tackle the centre’s outstanding issues and deficiencies arising from that report.
“Amongst them, the HSE has stated that all staff in the centre have received safeguarding awareness training, and safeguarding continues to be discussed at all monthly staff meetings.
“Random spot checks are also being conducted by Clinical Nurse Managers in accordance with HIQA sample interview questions which are designed to ensure that staff are aware of the procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation or suspicion of abuse.
“Additionally, a Multidisciplinary Team review into behaviour support plans and restrictive practices has been carried out and an agreed protocol has been implemented based on clinical criteria for the prescribing of restrictive practices in response to situations where a resident’s behaviour warrants intervention.
“A Psychologist has also completed assessments of each service user who requires behavioural support management, while all staff have undergone training on manging behaviour of concern at the centre.
“I understand that a HSE Risk Manager has carried out a review of the operational clinical and environmental risks at Ard Gréine Court in Stranorlar, and a number of control measures have been identified in order to minimise patient risk.
“An internal audit system is also now in place which will be used to monitor the use of prescribed medication used at the centre, while an independent audit has now commenced in the wider Donegal Intellectual Disability service.
“Of course these improvements are to be welcomed, and the measures outlined by the HSE show a clear commitment on the part of the centre’s staff and care teams to address the failing identified by HIQA earlier this year and ultimately to deliver a safe and effective service to residents at the facility.
“Therefore it’s only right that the professionalism of the staff working at Ard Gréine Court is applauded and that they are praised and recognised for their efforts to deliver these vital improvements to ensure the comfort and safety of patients, staff and visitors to the unit both now and into the future.”
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