An announced inspection of Cavan and Monaghan Hospital, confined to the Cavan Hospital site, took place in July 2022. On the day, HIQA found the hospital to be compliant with five standards, substantially compliant with eight standards, and partially compliant with one standard.
Inspectors found that the emergency department was challenged by the lack of space and effective flow of patients admitted to an inpatient bed. However, they acknowledged that there were further medium and long-term plans in place to improve patient flow, such as the use of the surgical assessment unit and a new building for the emergency department.
Meanwhile, the hospital had implemented an electronic Irish National Early Warning System which provided the opportunity to identify and respond to potential deteriorating patients. Overall, HIQA found that the hospital needed to improve monitoring arrangements to identify and act on opportunities to improve the quality of the healthcare services provided.
HIQA described the facility as a Model 3 hospital that admits undifferentiated acute medical patients, and provides 24/7 acute surgery, acute medicine, and critical care. HIQA also highlighted how it will continue to monitor the implementation of the compliance plans to address the areas in need of improvement identified through these seen on inspections.
