HIQA says Longford care home needs further fire safety actions and protections
Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) officials carried out an unannounced inspection of St Joseph's Care Centre on Thursday, May 21 last.
A Longford care centre provider must take further actions in relation to fire safety and their management of risk has been described as not being effective, just 10 months after it was found to be non-compliant with expected standards in nine different areas.
Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) officials carried out an unannounced inspection of St Joseph's Care Centre on Thursday, May 21 last.
The centre, which provides care to a range of needs of various complexity, including dementia care and cognitive impairment, acquired brain injury, palliative and palliative respite care.
St Joseph's Care Centre was found to be compliant in just two regulatory areas in July 2025 and they comprised of communication difficulties and visits and 'non compliant in nine out of 11 regulatory areas.
During that 2025 visit, the HIQA inspection found a fire blanket, a fire extinguisher and a fully equipped first aid kit, to include burn gel were missing.
On the day of the most recent follow-up inspection last May, there were 53 male and female residents at the 24 hour centre of all dependency levels with most over the age of 65.
St Joseph's Care Centre was assessed in terms of three regulatory areas, but the provider was found to be 'non compliant' in two out of those as it fell below the expected standard in relation to both 'Governance and management' and 'Fire Precautions' again.
In the third area 'Premises' the centre was deemed to be 'Substantially compliant', which means that most of the requirements of the relevant national standard or regulation have been met, but some minor actions or improvements are still needed
Residents appeared to be relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff and all observed interactions were respectful towards residents.
The HIQA report stated, "Building and fire safety works had been progressed at the time of this inspection, and this application was fully assessed by the inspector as part of this inspection.
"Whilst the provider had made improvements to fire safety and premises issues since the last inspection, the inspector found that further actions were required in relation to fire safety and some aspects of the premises."
The HIQA official noted fire evacuation floor plans were out-of-date due to the number of changes and demolition of units to make way for the new extension currently being built, while management policies and evacuation policies were also outdated.
*To read the full story see next Wednesday’s Longford Leader