Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 27 inspection reports on infection control in designated centres for people with disabilities. HIQA inspects against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities, which apply to residential services for people with disabilities in Ireland. 

The infection prevention and control (IPC) inspection programme aims to promote continuous quality improvement in infection prevention and control, in line with the National Standards for infection prevention and control in community services, (2018), as published by HIQA. 

Inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards across 20 centres inspected. 

Good practice was observed by inspectors in centres operated by: Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; Dundas Unlimited Company; GALRO Unlimited Company; Health Service Executive (HSE); L’Arche Ireland; Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Positive Futures: Achieving Dreams. Transforming Lives. Company Limited by Guarantee; Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company; Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities; St John of God Community Services CLG; St. Michael's House; and St. Aidan's Day Care Centre Company Limited by Guarantee.

Examples of good practice included:

• IPC training arrangements ensured that staff knowledge was comprehensive and up to date 
• Clear and effective management arrangements were in place to oversee IPC practices at centres 
• Comprehensive cleaning schedules ensured the risk of infection was effectively managed 

However, seven centres operated by: Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; Muiríosa Foundation; Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee; St John of God Community Services CLG; St. Michael’s House; and Three Steps Limited were found to be non-compliant, which meant that residents were not being adequately protected from the risk of infection. These providers were required to take actions to improve their infection prevention and control arrangements. 

Examples of areas requiring improvement observed by inspectors included:

• Improvements were required in the provision of IPC training for centre staff.
• Improvements were required in ensuring that items like hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment (PPE) were in date.
• Improvements were required in systems monitoring staff for signs of infection.
• Improvements were required in the cleaning of medical equipment to ensure it was decontaminated. 

Read all reports at the link below.