St Francis’ Nursing Home in Dundalk earns HIQA praise

St Francis’ Nursing Home in Mount Oliver, Dundalk, has been commended for the high standard of care it provides to residents, following a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspection carried out in June.

The announced inspection found that the 30-bed facility, which primarily cares for members of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa alongside female residents from the wider community , offers a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment. Inspectors reported that residents were “well cared for and safe,” with staff described as friendly, respectful, and attentive to individual needs.

During the visit, inspectors spoke to eight residents, all of whom expressed strong satisfaction with the centre. Residents praised staff for their kindness and responsiveness, with one describing how the team helped them settle in. Another said they had “never once regretted” their decision to move to St Francis’.

Inspectors observed a calm and relaxed atmosphere throughout the centre. Bedrooms were found to be spacious, personalised, and all equipped with en-suite facilities. Communal areas, including activity rooms, dining spaces, and an enclosed garden filled with flowers, were well used by residents for socialising, recreation, and relaxation.

Meals were reported to be of good quality and offered with choice. On the day of inspection, residents enjoyed roast turkey or lamb stew, with dessert options ranging from ice cream and jelly to bread and butter pudding.

The report praised the home’s governance structure and management systems, noting that staffing levels were sufficient and policies up to date. Inspectors highlighted good infection prevention and control practices, including effective cleaning procedures, safe laundry management, and staff training.

The home had recently addressed a challenge with legionella, putting in place weekly water checks, flushing protocols, and engaging external contractors to manage the issue. Residents were kept fully informed through forums and meetings.
Medication administration and safeguarding of residents’ possessions were also found to be compliant with regulations.

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The inspection identified one area requiring improvement: the directory of residents was not fully compliant with regulatory requirements. Some entries were missing details such as GP contact information and residents’ addresses. However, this issue was classified as “substantially compliant” (low risk), and management confirmed that it had been rectified by June 17th, the day after the inspection.

Overall, St Francis’ Nursing Home was found compliant across nine out of ten key areas, including staffing, governance, infection control, and the protection of residents’ rights and substantially compliant when it came to Directory of residents regulations.