The scandal-hit Owen Mor home on Derry’s Culmore Road can now take in new patients
Owen Mor, situated on the city’s Culmore Road, caters for people with learning disabilities and dementia.
It was closed to new admissions following a number of inspections by health watchdog the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) earlier this year.
The regulator said the home has now complied with its requirements.
On its website, the RQIA said: “Further to an unannounced inspection carried out on 19 November 2019 and review of information held, RQIA was satisfied that the home was compliant with regulations and that the conditions imposed could be removed.”
The RQIA said admissions would recommence on a phased basis.
The home must also submit weekly reports to the RQIA to inform the regulator of new admissions.
The condition is in place until further notice, the RQIA said.
A monthly monitoring report must also be submitted by Owen Mor to the RQIA.
Dr Una McDonald, a spokesperson for Owen Mor, expressed regret over the “distress and concern caused to those impacted by the suspension of new admissions in August, when we failed to meet the regulator’s deadline for full compliance with the regulations”.
“While we acted with expediency to reinstate the required standards, a monitoring period was necessary to ensure that all improvements are sustained over a period of time,” she added.
Dr McDonald paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of staff, and to “the significant contribution of our newly appointed manager”.
The commissioner for older people, Eddie Lynch, welcomed “news that the RQIA have found evidence of sufficient improvements at Owen Mor”.
“I’m pleased that progress is being made and hope that the home continues to improve and meet the standards required so that older residents receive the level of care and treatment they deserve,” he said.
The 81-bed care home first came under the spotlight in May after an investigation.
Inspectors highlighted concerns about staff knowledge, including nurses not following policies and procedures, as well as inadequate records about patient safety, including falls, feeding and nutrition.
After a follow-up inspection in August, the regulator stopped new patient admissions after obtaining a court order.
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