Safety systems at Kerry hospital not as robust as needed, Hiqa warns 

Hiqa inspected the hospital in four areas of potential harm, finding systems in place but warning these “were not as robust, proactive and effective as they should be”. 

Inspectors estimated there is a “considerable plan of work required in 2025 to strengthen the quality and safety function within the hospital,” despite finding positive changes also.

The four areas assessed were infection prevention and control, medication safety, deteriorating patient and transitions of care.

In the emergency department, Hiqa found: “There were seven patients in the ED awaiting an in-patient bed at 9am, six patients were accommodated on ward trolleys and 14 patients were accommodated in the day-care ward, which was being utilised as a surge area.” 

Wards were full, including at least one with a patient on a trolley as well as 30 patients in beds. Some wards had men and women, which inspectors were told was linked to the escalation plan.

One relative described one department as “chaotic” while inspectors also said patients described the staff as "obliging", "very helpful" and "very responsive".

Hospital data showed: “There were 44,701 ED attendances to UHK up to 29 December 2024 which was a 7% increase in comparison to 2023 and a 30% increase in attendances compared to 2021.” 

Staff described challenges including bed shortages and outside the hospital a shortage of community beds and gaps in homecare. The latter issues impact UHK’s ability to discharge patients with 22 described as delayed that day.

Inspectors asked for data on ambulance handover times of less than 30 minutes, but the report shows “compliance was recorded as 8.63% in 2023 and 8.99% in 2024.” 

While no patient was waiting longer than 24 hours, 51% were waiting over six hours and 47% were waiting over nine hours from registration.

Inspectors said: “On the day of inspection, despite significant efforts from all members of staff, patient flow was not operating as effectively as it should be, this resulted in patients remaining in the ED while awaiting an in-patient bed and non-compliance with HSE PETs (patient experience time targets).” 

The hospital also reported however, that “there was a 26% reduction in ED trolley numbers from 2023”. 

They described new arrangements including extra consultants and a link-up with a private hospital as well as new care pathways for over-75s and other changes.

Hiqa also found that patients, once admitted, spend more days in hospital than the HSE recommends.

A Hiqa spokeswoman said: “At University Hospital Kerry, inspectors noted improvement in the corporate and clinical governance structures, however, further work was required in the effectiveness and monitoring of these arrangements.” 

Additional work is also needed on filling staff vacancies, she added.

In all, Hiqa published 12 reports, including on the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) in Cork, Fermoy Welfare Home and St Theresa’s Hospital in Clogeen, Tipperary.

SIVUH was found compliant in all areas. All the reports can be read on the Hiqa website.