HIQA calls for urgent review of safety at Cregg House in Sligo

HIQA has called for an urgent review about safety at a care centre for people with disabilities in Co Sligo.
The report by the health watchdog raises serious concerns about the use of drugs to restrain adult and child residents at Cregg House.
It’s also identified major breaches of standards; unsafe staffing levels and fire safety concerns.
HIQA has called for an urgent review about safety at a care centre for people with disabilities in Co Sligo.
The report by the health watchdog raises serious concerns about the use of drugs to restrain adult and child residents at Cregg House.
It’s also identified major breaches of standards; unsafe staffing levels and fire safety concerns.
HIQA measured Cregg House across 23 standards. The Co Sligo care centre was found to be in major breach of 19 of them. And fully compliant in none.
A high level of risk to residents was found to be posed by other residents – with many said to be disturbed by frustration at a lack of services or activities.
One resident was restrained with drugs on 13 occasions over ‘a few’ months; with a nurse noting ‘it was better to give the chemical restraint at the start of a patient outburst, otherwise it could go on for up to two hours’.
Children at the centre were often left in bed until 1 pm – because there wasn’t enough staff to attend to their needs – meals were provided at midday because staff lunch was usually between 12.45 and 2pm.
The report says patients at the centre are ‘at risk’ – because of poor staffing levels, a high rate of sick leave, and fire safety concerns.
The HSE has pledged to act on the report’s findings.