Concerns over fire safety raised at Laois nursing home

Concerns remained over fire safety at a well known Laois Nursing Home after a recent inspection. 

Droimnin Nursing Home in Stradbally had 44 residents at the time of an unannounced two day inspection by the Health information and Quality Authority(HIQA) on May 1, 2024.  

The follow-up inspection was carried out after a previous examination of the nursing home raised issues relating to fire safety. 

Droimnin Nursing Home is a designated centre for older people. It has two purpose built buildings and can provide accommodation for a maximum of 70 adult residents. 

“Residents are admitted on a long-term residential, respite and convalescence basis. The centre is located at the end of a short avenue in from the road and within walking distance to Stradbally, Co Laois,” the HIQA report notes. 

The home was previously badly impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic when dozens of staff and many residents falling ill. Covid resident deaths were in the double digits in 2021. 

The latest inspection was following up on the actions taken by the provider to address issues identified on previous inspections dating back to September 2022. 

“Residents living in Droimnin Nursing Home were complimentary of the quality of care they received from staff who they described as caring, patient, and kind,” the report found. 

“On day two of the inspection the atmosphere in the centre was lively. A cake sale and a live music event was in progress and members of the local community attended to share and enjoy the occasion with the residents. Residents were observed to enjoy this event, with some residents dancing with staff and others laughing and chatting with visitors,” it stated. 

The report found the home compliant in all areas of inspection except one. It related to fire safety precautions at the building.  

“Inspectors found that while some action had been taken to address areas of noncompliance found on the previous inspection of the centre, such as the fire door repairs and the review of the smoking areas, the action required to ensure full compliance with Regulation 28, was not completed,” the report stated.  

“Furthermore, outstanding fire safety work was not risk assessed and there was no project plan in place to provide assurance that work would be completed within appropriate time lines,” the report said. 

HIQA said “to ensure timely completion of the necessary fire safety work, a detailed project plan was submitted to the Regulator on May 7th, 2024. This plan was further refined with updated timelines and mitigation strategies, which was submitted on May 16th, 2024.”

The nursing home said it had put in place additional measures to mitigate any fire risk while the required work was being carried out. 

It said  “the Register Provider Representative is committed to rectifying all items raised in the risk assessment report by December 31st, 2024.”