The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has responded to concerns raised around the transfer of a frail resident from the Valley Nursing Home where he was receiving end-of-life care.

The Clogher facility was ordered to close by the RQIA, but despite the resident’s clearly deteriorating condition, instructions to prepare to transfer him to another facility had been received.

The individual in question is understood to have been previously discharged from the South West Acute Hospital to the Valley Nursing Home for end-of-life palliative care.

Staff expressed grave concerns around moving the resident, and requested the Valley Nursing Home remain open to allow him to pass with dignity in familiar surroundings and without undue disturbance.

However, this was rejected, and the resident was one of the first to be moved to a facility in Lisnaskea, a journey of some 26 miles. He died the following day.

The RQIA was asked a number of questions in respect of this, including why care home staff concerns were ignored, as was their plea to allow the home to remain open to allow the resident to pass.

A spokesperson replied: ““During an inspection of Valley Nursing Home in October, 2020, RQIA identified a number of serious concerns in relation to the safety and effectiveness of resident care.

“As a result of these concerns, enforcement action commenced to cancel the registration of the provider.

“RQIA is very mindful of the impact the closure of a care home can have on residents.

“The health and wellbeing of all residents is of paramount importance to RQIA, and we work closely with the provider and the local Health and Social Care Trusts to ensure residents and their families are involved in a move to appropriate alternative accommodation.

“The human rights of all the residents accommodated at Valley Nursing Home were of foremost concern to RQIA.

“Whilst RQIA cannot comment on any individual residents, we can confirm that a request to defer the closure of the home to allow the remaining residents to stay over the festive period was granted.

“Any requests received from a provider, or indeed, the commissioning Health and Social Care Trusts to defer a home closure during our enforcement processes will be considered, where at all possible.”

The spokesperson continued: “Where RQIA identifies significant concerns around the provision of care, it is important we take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all in the home.

“When RQIA commenced enforcement action to deregister in this instance, we engaged with the Health and Social Care Trusts and other relevant agencies to ensure a managed process. “

RQIA also stressed: “The management of [a] resident’s discharge from the home is a matter for the relevant Health and Social Care Trusts who commissioned the care on behalf of that resident.

“RQIA does not have access to, nor hold, individual personal information for residents of care homes, and decisions around individual care plans, discharge and securing suitable alternative accommodation for individuals are a matter for the relevant Health and Social Care Trust.

“RQIA are not directly involved in those personal decisions and arrangements.”

Enquiries are now being made with the relevant Health and Social Care Trust with whom the deceased was registered.