On this unannounced inspection, HIQA found the hospital to be compliant or substantially compliant with eight national standards and partially compliant with three national standards. At the time of inspection, a number of measures were in place at the hospital to support effective patient flow through the emergency department (ED) and wider hospital. Despite these efforts, patients in the ED were experiencing lengthy waiting times to access an inpatient bed, with 39% of patients on trolleys while awaiting an inpatient bed. Patients who spoke with inspectors were complimentary about staff, who had a person-centred approach to care. There were a number of unfilled positions at the hospital including nursing, healthcare assistant and pharmacist positions. In particular, unfilled nursing positions in the ED, although improved since a previous inspection in July 2023, persisted. While clinical areas inspected were observed to be generally clean, the physical environment in older parts of the hospital, such as the dialysis unit and in Fairview Community Unit required attention to address infection prevention and control issues. 

HIQA conducted an unannounced inspection of Naas General Hospital and found the hospital to be compliant or substantially compliant with eight national standards and partially compliant with three national standards. There were formalised governance and management arrangements in place for assuring the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable healthcare at the hospital. However, the increase in demand for unscheduled and emergency care, and issues with patient flow where 40% of patients in the ED were waiting for a patient bed, contributed to long patient experience times (PETs) for patients receiving care in the ED. The physical environment in the clinical areas visited was generally well maintained; however, further improvements were required to address environmental issues in a number of areas. In addition, further work was required to improve auditing and monitoring arrangements in the hospital. 

HIQA found good levels of compliance in the hospital, which was found to be compliant or substantially compliant with 10 national standards and partially compliant with one national standard assessed. While governance and oversight arrangements in the service required improvement, the arrangements in place were  supporting and promoting the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable healthcare services. Patients who spoke with inspectors were positive about their stay in the hospital. A culture of kindness, consideration and respect was actively promoted in the hospital. 

An announced inspection of the rehabilitation services at Peamount Healthcare found the service to be compliant or substantially compliant with 11 national standards assessed. There were effective management arrangements in place to support and promote the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable healthcare services. The hospital’s executive management team worked collaboratively to ensure there was a concerted focus on the quality and safety of rehabilitation services. The physical environment in some areas, while well maintained, required improvement. It was evident that a culture of kindness, consideration and respect was actively promoted in the rehabilitation services and patients who spoke with inspectors were positive about their stay there. 

HIQA’s announced inspection of Bantry General Hospital found the hospital to be compliant or substantially compliant with nine national standards, and partially compliant with two national standards assessed. The hospital had formalised corporate and clinical governance arrangements in place; however the Quality and Safety Committee which was assigned with overall responsibility for the governance and oversight of quality and safety in the hospital did not meet as frequently as required, which could delay the escalation and communication of issues. The hospital demonstrated generally good compliance with mandatory training for staff with some areas identified for improvement. The hospital had monitoring arrangements and systems in place to identify, report, manage, and respond to patient safety incidents, particularly in infection prevention and control, medication safety, and transitions of care. 

Overall, Bantry General Hospital demonstrated a strong commitment to respecting and promoting the dignity, privacy, and autonomy of patients. Patients reported positive experiences and systems were in place to respond promptly and effectively to complaints and concerns, with a focus on continuous improvement and patient advocacy.

HIQA conducted an unannounced inspection of St James’s Hospital and found the hospital to be compliant with seven national standards and substantially compliant with four national standards.

It was evident that corporate and clinical governance arrangements were in place for assuring the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable healthcare. Hospital management had established several committees to achieve planned objectives and to ensure effective management arrangements in relation to infection prevention and control practices, medication safety, the clinically deteriorating patient and safe transitions of care. The workforce arrangements were planned, organised and managed to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable healthcare. Some gaps were seen in attendance and uptake of mandatory and essential training by nursing staff and healthcare assistant staff. Staff promoted a culture of kindness, consideration and respect. There were systems and processes in place in the hospital to respond to complaints and concerns. The physical environment in the clinical areas visited was generally secure, well maintained and clean. Overall, there were effective monitoring arrangements in place for identifying and acting on opportunities to continually improve the quality, safety and reliability of the hospital’s healthcare service.

HIQA conducted an unannounced inspection of Regional Hospital Mullingar on 9 and 10 October 2024 and found the hospital compliant or substantially compliant with seven national standards, partially compliant with three national standards and non-compliant with one national standard assessed. At the time of inspection, the hospital’s governance and management arrangements were in a state of transition. Inspectors found that four of the nine executive management positions were unfilled which had the potential to affect the future governance and efficient delivery of healthcare services. Additionally, there were vacancies in nursing, midwifery and healthcare assistant staff to support the health service delivered. There were 40 patients registered in the ED on the day of inspection, with 10 of these patients admitted and waiting for an inpatient bed. As such, while the dignity, privacy and autonomy of patients was promoted and respected in inpatient areas, patients’ privacy and dignity in the ED required significant improvement. The hospital was not compliant with the majority of the HSE’s PETs in relation to ED performance. 

Overall, while there was improvement in compliance with six national standards when compared to previous inspection in 2022, further work is required to address management and staffing vacancies at the hospital and address performance in relation to patient flow quality metrics and related overcrowding in the ED. 

HIQA found Lisdarn Transitional Care Centre was compliant or substantially compliant with 10 national standards and partially compliant with one national standard assessed during inspection. Inspectors found there were no single rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities for patients requiring isolation. Notwistanding this, there were effective management arrangements to support and promote the delivery of high-quality, safe and reliable healthcare services. There were systems in place to monitor and evaluate the quality and safety of services provided at the centre. It was evident that a culture of kindness, consideration and respect was actively promoted in Lisdarn Transitional Care Centre and patients who spoke with inspectors were positive about their stay there.