An inspection of an East Clare centre for older people has found that fire safety arrangements at the centre “did not provide adequate precautions against the risk of fire”.
The unannounced Health Information and Quality Authority inspection observed a number of breaches of fire safety regulations with the report stating that “a number of fire doors were found to be propped open by a chair”.
A HIQA inspection of Raheen Community Hospital took place on the 16th of May of this year following a previous inspection in October 2022 which found a number of areas to be improved upon.
The facility, which is situated in Raheen Woods, three miles outside Scariff, provides 24-hour care to male and female patients aged 18 or over who require long-term, short-term, respite and palliative care.
On the day of the inspection, 23 residents were present at the facility which is registered to accommodate a maximum of 25 residents.
The centre was found to be either ‘compliant’ or ‘substantially compliant’ in most areas with inspectors noting that a “homely and relaxed environment” had been created by staff, residents had appropriate access to their personal possessions, meals were nutritious and individual care plans were developed with a “comprehensive assessment of need”.
The majority of issues lay in the area of ‘Fire Precautions’ and the centre was deemed ‘non-compliant’ in this area.
Inspectors observed “inappropriate storage practices of oxygen cylinders” in two areas of the centre while elsewhere, a number of fire doors were “propped open by a chair” which negatively impacted the function of the closing mechanism and “could result in the potential for fire and smoke to spread in the event of a fire”.
Other issues related to fire safety which were observed included a lack of directional signage to emergency exits, fire doors not meeting the criteria of a fire door, glass screens in bedrooms intended for fire containment not having the necessary containment properties and cold smoke seals being painted over in a number of locations thus rendering them ineffective to prevent the passage of smoke.
Raheen Community Hospital was found to be non-compliant under five areas of Regulation 28 with one of these areas rated “high risk”.
In response, the provider said it would “take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, and shall provide suitable fire fighting equipment, suitable building services, and suitable bedding and furnishings”.
The full report can be read here