The health watchdog says the use of “restrictive practices” at a Clare disabilities centre has raised questions over whether the provider is respecting the rights of its residents.
The Health Information and Quality Authority has found the Hazelwood designated centre for disabilites “not compliant” in the area of “residents’ rights” following an announced inspection.
The HIQA inspection was conducted at the Clare facility on April 2nd of this year to make a decision regarding the registered provider’s application to renew the registration of the centre for a further three-year cycle.
The centre is accessible to community services including educational opportunities and day services, and provides supports to three residents in their homes 24/7.
Inspectors found that residents were given a “good level of care and support” in their homes and noted evidence of “effective oversight of the centre to ensure the safety of residents”.
Concerns were expressed in relation to residents’ rights however as residents had restricted access to areas of their home.
It was also noted that restrictive medical practices, including the use of physical and chemical restraints, were used to support a resident receiving medical care.
The inspection report reveals the resident wasn’t informed of these practices prior to their use and that it wasn’t evident that they had participated in or consented to these supports.
The centre’s provider, Corlann, was found “not compliant” in the area of “residents’ rights” and just “substantially compliant” in the area of “medicines and pharmaceutical services”.
