The Health Information and Quality Authority has published a monitoring inspection report conducted at Cork University Hospital over the Summer.
The unannounced risk-based inspection took place at Cork University Hospital's emergency department in June and was carried out to ensure the hospital was implementing adequate measures to mitigate potential safety risks, the impact of overcrowding and to ensure continuous and effective patient flow.
HIQA found the hospital to be partially compliant with three standards and non-compliant with one standard assessed on the day of inspection.
Inspectors found, at the time of this inspection, that despite management efforts to mitigate risks, the emergency department remained overcrowded with the demand for emergency care exceeding the department's capacity. The inspectors also found that there was a reliance on agency nursing staff to support and maintain nursing rostering in the hospital, which raised concerns in terms of ensuring sustainable and safe staffing levels.
Overall, HIQA found that the hospital was challenged to manage surge capacity, support effective patient flow and ensure care supports and the timely review and medical assessment of patients.
