Admissions re-commence at Sacred Heart Hospital

New patients are being admitted to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon, the HSE has confirmed. The hospital was closed to new admissions from July 2022 to October 11th last, but the HSE says that admissions have recommenced and are being progressed.

According to the latest published report by the health regulator the hospital remained non -compliant with fire precaution regulations. However, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) also found that the centre was compliant or substantially compliant in all other areas, including staffing, residents’ rights, and infection control.

In relation to the non-compliance with fire precaution regulations, a spokesperson for Hiqa also said that due to the improvements made by the HSE, it was satisfied to remove the condition on new admissions to the centre’s registration.

“Hiqa will continue to monitor compliance to ensure the safety and welfare of residents,” the spokesperson said.

In the report, residents of the Sacred Heart Hospital told inspectors that they were content living in the hospital and “that staff were second to none” and that they were “caring and kind”.

However, Hiqa noted in the inspection report, which was carried out in April, that the hospital remained non-compliant with fire precautions. An inspection from April 2022 also found that the centre was non-compliant with these regulations.

While Hiqa noted that “extensive works to upgrade fire safety systems in the centre” had been undertaken and that the centre had a very good fire safety culture, there were “still a number of areas where improvements were needed to ensure residents were adequately protected”.

“The provider needed to ensure adequate precautions are being taken against the risk of fire. For example, the inspectors identified two kerosene cans were being stored in a boiler room. The boiler room is a high-risk area, combined with a highly flammable liquid created a potential risk for fire to develop,” the report noted. “The cans were removed on the day of the inspection. In addition, two extinguisher suppression cylinders were overdue a service.” It added that a fire blanket was not fitted in a staff canteen and oxygen warning signage was missing from a door into a storeroom that contained oxygen.

It found that the HSE needed to improve the means of escape and emergency lighting in the event of a fire emergency in the centre.

“The provider needed to improve the reviewing of fire precautions. For example, while the majority of fire risks previously identified were completed, some fire risks still existed, particularly in the church building. The provider did reduce the risk to residents in this area by implementing mitigating measures, however notwithstanding this, fire safety works had still not progressed in this area.” The inspectors also noted that in St Michael's Unit, the closing action of a kitchen and office door required attention to ensure containment of fire and smoke.

“A fire door into a treatment room and a kitchen didn't close fully when released by the inspectors. In Our Lady's Ward, fire doors located in bedrooms one, two and three had visible gaps over the maximum allowable tolerance, this was a repeated non-compliance from the previous inspection."

The report also noted that while most of the units in the centre displayed fire evacuation floor plans and fire action notices, these were not on display in St Michael's unit at the time of the inspection.

"These would form part of the procedure to be followed by staff in the event of a fire in this centre, and, therefore, could cause confusion and loss of valuable time in the event of a fire emergency.” Separately, the HSE confirmed that tenders are currently being assessed for the new 50 bed unit at Sacred Heart Hospital Roscommon.

“The result will be announced when complete with projected completion dates,” a spokesperson said.