An inspection was conducted by Hiqa
Children with disabilities were allegedly left confined to their rooms after failures to fix a lift at their care facility in Co. Monaghan. A new report by Hiqa has slated the care home after discovering two children were unable to go downstairs for over three weeks because of the broken lift.
According to Hiqa, the two children missed school, as well as medical appointments because of the broken lift.
They were confined to the upstairs area of the home because of the broken lift for 25 days in January. Hiqa also discovered that the lift was broken for 34 days last summer. This means the two children were unable to go downstairs for a total of 59 days.
Hiqa conducted the unplanned inspection at Woodbrook Lodge in Co. Monaghan. Hiqa said the residents’ rights were impacted by the fact that they were trapped in their rooms for over three weeks.
The children were reportedly confined to their rooms, according to the report. The children were also left “engaging in activities with staff on the landing of their home”.
The residents had been confined to this area for over three weeks at the time of the inspection.
Hiqa confirmed that before the inspection, management had no “clear deadline” for when the lift would be fixed.
The lift has since been fixed since the inspection. Hiqa added, “The two residents most significantly affected by the lift being out of order have now had their bedrooms relocated downstairs. This will ensure that their daily lives including attending education, being involved in activities on and off-site, and attending appointments will not be impeded upon.”
