HIQA report finds ‘kind and respectful’ care at north Mayo nursing unit

An unannounced inspection of a north Mayo community nursing unit by Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) found that residents spoke very complimentary of the staff in the centre. 

An inspection of the HSE-registered Áras Deirbhle community nursing unit in Belmullet, took place on November 13, 2025.

The community nursing unit cares for 30 residents, requiring long and short-term care. The building consists of seven twin bedrooms and sixteen single bedrooms. The communal facilities include a dining/day room, an oratory, a visitor’s room, a hairdressing salon, and an internal courtyard.

The inspector observed interactions between staff and residents to be kind and respectful, with a friendly, relaxed, and calm atmosphere throughout. 

Residents who spoke with the inspector were very complimentary about the staff in the centre, with one resident saying, “It’s not home, but I’m happy here, I’m well looked after” while another said, “staff are lovely and very kind to me”. 

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Of the 13 regulations assessed, six were compliant, four were not compliant, and three were substantially compliant, indicating a high level of compliance with some areas requiring further improvement.

A compliance plan to address the non-compliant judgements has been returned to HIQA, outlining a number of actions undertaken to bring the Áras Deirbhle Community Nursing Unit to full compliance.

The compliance plan includes refresher training for staff as identified in the report, a directory of residents is now held in the centre with staff files and fire safety records now accessible in the centre, as well as a review of the audit process to ensure the deficiencies identified are addressed.

Furthermore, the compliance plans included that consultations with residents and significant others will be more comprehensively documented as part of the ongoing review of care plans of residents.