Sligo University Hospital welcomes publication of HIQA report

An announced inspection was carried out at the hospital on the 8th and 9th of October, 2024.

The three clinical areas assessed were the Emergency Department (ED), Paediatric Ward (Children’s Ward – general medicine and surgery) and Medical North (Gastroenterology including liver disease, general medicine).

The focus of the inspection was to monitor compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. During the inspection, no instances of non-compliance were found.

As part of the assessment, HIQA focused on key standards relating to Capacity and Capability and Quality and Safety.

The inspection focused in particular, on four key areas; infection prevention and control, drugs and therapeutics, the deteriorating patient (adult and child) and transitions of care.

The hospital was found to be compliant in three areas, substantially compliant in two areas and partially compliant in six areas of the standards.

Grainne McCann, Hospital Manager at SUH said: “We welcome this report and recognise the importance and valuable role of HIQA in assessing and promoting safety and quality in the healthcare services. Action has been taken to address issues identified by HIQA. Our new 26 bedded medical offsite ward, which opened in January 2025 has had a positive effect on patient flow and overcrowding in SUH on site. In addition, a new 42 bed ward block will enable greater quality of service and improve patient outcomes. Having a second CT scanner in Q4 2025 will ensure continuity of care for trauma, stroke, emergency and inpatient services, and improve GP access.

I want to thank our staff for their commitment to providing the highest quality of care to patients. Together we will continue to drive quality improvement across all of our hospital services.”

The report found that the hospital had formalised integrated corporate and clinical government arrangements in place which were appropriate for the size, scope and complexity of the service provided.

There were overall improvements in recruitment of staff since the last inspection although there continued to be a shortfall of staff in certain areas.

There was clear evidence that the hospital management and staff were aware of the need to respect and promote the dignity, privacy and autonomy of people receiving care of the hospital (including in the ED), promoting a culture of kindness, consideration and respect.

Inspectors found that the service users’ complaints and concerns were largely being responded to promptly, openly and effectively. There was room for further improvement in the turnaround times for complaint resolution. A review of systems and mechanisms for receiving complaints is currently underway with a completion time of Q3 2025.

Significant work has been carried out on all areas where the hospital was found to be partially compliant. The HIQA report noted Areas for improvement in relation to Patient Experience Times in the ED. The hospital is fully committed to reducing the length of time any patient is waiting in the ED and a number of actions have been undertaken to help address this.

Patients on trollies have been removed from the front corridor by creating additional adult space in ED and moving Paediatric patients to another area in ED.

A mapping exercise in relation to ED patient flow and Patient Experience Time (PET) was also undertaken at SUH in July 2023 as part of a review of the ED patient pathway.

SUH has enhanced the clinical handover and senior decision making presence on ED floor over seven days and an 8th Consultant in Emergency Medicine has been filled on a temporary basis.

In an effort to assist with improving clinical assessment times, two additional Advanced Nurse Practitioner’s (ANP’s) for Paediatrics and Minors Area have been rostered since January 2025.

Emergency Department flow through the department has improved with the opening of a new Paediatric ED department.

SUH will continue to work with HIQA to ensure that all of the issues highlighted are addressed