Fire risk at Laois nursing home 'tolerable' says report commissioned by operators

The healthcare company that owns Droimnín Nursing Home in Stradbally has insisted that the fire risk at the home is ‘tolerable’ and that ‘no major additional controls were required’.

Brookhaven Healthcare has said a recent report by the health service standards authority HIQA noted the completion of an independent assessment of nursing home.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) called for 'significant' action to be taken to ensure a safe delivery of service. Two status red-level risks identified relating to fire were among an extensive range of issues highlighted in the report published on September 25.

Conor Murphy, Group Operations Director, contacted the Leinster Express / Laois Live in relation to the fire findings at the home which can accommodate 70 male and female residents, over 18 years of age.

"The HIQA report notes that an independent fire risk assessment by an external consultant was completed on 15.05.23 which noted that the risk level of the building was ‘tolerable’ and that ‘no major additional controls were required’," he said.

The commissioning of the fire report was a response to findings of the HIQA report published after an unannounced inspection on May 3 and 4 this year.

HIQA outlined fire-related action items completed which said evacuation training and fire drills will now include vertical escape routes. 

It said five new fire evacuation chairs had been purchased for the first floor and all staff have been trained to use this equipment. 

HIQA reported that fire compartments and zones have been discussed with the fire safety trainer and evacuation training and drills will now include the full compartments.

It added that evacuation plans also include full compartments with compartment numbers, fire zones within the compartment, resident bedroom numbers, dependency, evacuation equipment needs and the nearest most appropriate exit route.

HIQA said all staff have been advised that the fire doors should not be left open and notices have been placed on the doors to remind staff. It added that the daily means of escape route checks have been updated.

The standards authority reported that fire safety and fire doors is discussed daily at handover and checked each day to ensure they are closed.

A risk assessment was completed for the absence of automatic door closures to bedroom doors. The closing of bedroom doors will be included in simulated fire drills and fire safety training. HIQA said all staff have been made aware of the control measures required as identified in the risk assessment.

HIQA added that high risk rooms were cleaned out and all inappropriate items removed. It reported that these high risks are now included on the Health and Safety Walk and checked that they remain free from combustible storage.

Candles are no longer in use in the Centre with battery candles now used.

No oxygen is stored in the building while an exposed wire was addressed and is now resolved.

Another action take was the display of the updated fire safety action plan at the fire alarm panel. The procedures to follow in the event of a fire are prominently displayed in other areas of the centre.

HIQA outlied fire-related action items to be completed.

These included emergency lighting within the centre. This was under review by an external contractor with upgrade work and to be scheduled based on the availability of contractors.

The width of the path outside the dining room exit is also under review by an external contractor. The upgrade work required will be scheduled based on the availability of contractors.

HIQA said the fire risk assessment noted issues with doors. External contractors are due to  visit the nursing home to quote for these works which will be scheduled based on the availability of contractors.

The fire risk assessment also noted issues relating to penetrations in fire-rated ceilings relating to hatches, utility pipes, vents/ducts, and light installations. This is also awaiting awaiting external contractors to visit to quote for these works which will be scheduled based on the availability of contractors.

External contractors are also due to visit to quote for other fireworks including the fire stopping in the electrical room, smoke ventilation from one of the fire escapes, and glazing of the first-floor window. HIQA adds that these works will then be scheduled based on the availability of contractors.