A documentary broadcast on RTÉ this week revealed serious issues at a number of nursing homes.

RTÉ Investigates examined standards of care at two nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland, formerly known as Orpea.

Following an unannounced inspection of the HSE-managed St Finbarr’s Hospital on Douglas Road, several issues, that were described as ongoing, were identified with the premises.

Two of the centres that were inspected—Eglinton Centre and Slaney Court Apartments—were found to have no non-compliances identified against the standards. The remaining five centres had varying levels of compliance.

Residents told inspectors that staff were kind and caring, but one said that staff were “rushed off their feet”, and another three said their care often felt rushed.

It leaves the total number of children awaiting spinal surgery procedures at 228.

Disbanding the board of Children’s Health Ireland would not help in any shape or form, the Taoiseach has said.

'Following discussions over recent weeks with the Department for Health, I now wish to step down and provide for an orderly transition to a new chair'

Poor governance was identified by the HIQA at three centres operated by Ability West.

Of the eight foster care standards that were assessed, one was found to be compliant, two were found to be substantially compliant and the other five were found to be not compliant.

The Cork City North 17 centre, operated by Horizons (formerly the Cope Foundation) was marked compliant in eight areas, not compliant in six and substantially compliant in four in a recent Hiqa inspection.

The inspection found 35 per cent of staff across centres were not appropriately vetted by gardaí.

Some of the centres had not attained the appropriate An Garda Síochána vetting.

Amy Campbell analyses data compiled by Hiqa on centres for adults with disabilities in Cork and hears from the operators of the centres on the issues presented

The inspector noted that there was a “welcoming atmosphere” at Youghal Community Hospital and that residents were well cared for by “knowledgeable and kind staff”.

While residents and families at Heather House Community Nursing Unit spoke positively about management and staff, HIQA inspectors did, however, highlight issues relating to fire safety.

Eimear Carroll (42), of Hillside, Seffin, Birr, Offaly, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment and two counts of sending by post an article which is obscene, grossly offensive, or menacing.

The person in charge told inspectors that ‘most staff were not willing to drive this vehicle’ and that it was hoped to purchase a second wheelchair-accessible vehicle with fundraising money.

The Kinsale Road International Protection Accommodation Service centre caters for families and single males and females.

Inspections of International Protection Accommodation services found asylum seekers living in "cramped, overcrowded, undignified and unsafe" accommodation

The centre was marked compliant in four areas, substantially compliant in five, and not compliant in a further five.

While the majority of the findings of the Hiqa report into Bushmount Nursing Home were positive, Hiqa reported that there were 'insufficient assurance mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with the national standards for infection prevention and control.'

HIQA found that many children continued to experience significant delays in receiving a social worker-led service.

Poor governance was identified at four centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, which has centres in Dublin and Kildare.

A number of high risk fire safety risks were identified at the centres in Bantry and Conna, and had been pointed out in previous inspections of both.

The centre was compliant in six areas and substantially compliant in five.

HIQA has released a new report, detailing its monitoring of children's services over the last 10 years.

There are currently five patients in Unit 1, all of whom have been in the unit for three years or more, and the remaining 11 beds have been vacant for three years or more.

In one of the centres, HIQA inspectors found that a safeguarding incident involving the welfare of four children was not managed in line with national policy or guidance.

While the overall from residents at Midleton Community Hospital (MCH) was positive, a Hiqa inspector did note some issues with the building that needed attention.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) published inspection reports assessing compliance regulations, including five Cork facilities across both the public and private sector.

HIQA inspectors identified seven areas of non-compliance at Conna nursing home during unannounced inspection. 

Fertility preservation is the cryopreservation, or freezing, of eggs, sperm, embryos or reproductive tissue, so that a person can use them to have biological children in the future.

HIQA said its health technology assessment found evidence that two types of enhanced flu vaccines may be more effective than standard flu vaccines in preventing cases of flu or flu-related hospitalisation in this age group.

The centre, which is ran by Ability West, provides respite care to a maximum of six adults with intellectual, as well as sometimes physical, disabilities.

There has been a focus on overcrowding at Limerick University Hospital in recent years.

The centre has a capacity of 21 residents and there were three vacancies at the time of inspection, and though from the centre was mostly positive, some areas were highlighted as being of concern

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG

The progress update was confirmed to The Echo in response to a query following a recent HIQA inspection of the facility.

A HIQA report into Blarney Nursing and Retirement Home found that there was insufficient staffing to meet the social care needs of the residents

The report states, “Residents reported that the days were long and there were limited things to do except watch television in the day room."

A HIQA inspection report on the Millstreet centre also found there were 'inadequate measures in place to protect vulnerable adult residents from the risks of abuse and harm'.

Issues identified included the provision of unsuitable beds, an apparent lack of sanitary provisions, privacy issues and a lack of storage space.

International Protection Accommodation Service centres, formerly known as direct provision centres, provide accommodation for people seeking international protection in Ireland.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) carried out an unannounced inspection of UHL last November

The Health Information and Quality Authority published a number of reports relating to Cork nursing homes. 

Inspectors also found that due to overcrowding, some adults and children shared beds.

The six hospitals inspected were Mayo University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, The Rehabilitation Unit, St Mary’s Care Centre, Regional Hospital Mullingar, Clontarf Hospital, Carlow District Hospital and National Rehabilitation Hospital.

The new report said “staff treated residents with great kindness, and they were committed to upholding their rights.”

An unkempt utility room, a notably dirty kitchen area and dirt lodged between the flooring and the cupboards were some issues in one house noted in the report. Rust and mould were also noted, while the house was also cold.