Inspectors from Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) visited St Patrick's Hospital during an announced inspection on September 29 and 30 last year.
During their visit they found there were only two members of staff on night duty in the
"Rivermeade" unit, accommodating 36 male and female residents, all of whom had high or maximum dependency levels.
This unit was on the first floor of the hospital and, given its low staffing levels between 6.30pm and 8am, inspectors were concerned about how residents might be evacuated in the event of a fire.
In addition, the report said there was no person in charge of the centre at night "to make decisions in unforeseen circumstances." There were 110 residents in the hospital on the inspection date.
While the Hiqa had many positive comments to make about care provided in St Patrick's, it also raised concerns about the structure of the hospital and the fact that up to eight residents were accommodated in the wards with "limited space between beds."
The inspector said, "There were numerous challenges posed by the structure and layout of the physical environment and the multi-occupancy accommodation to ensure residents' privacy and dignity were maintained."
In response to the report St Patrick's Hospital said the Person in Charge has met the General Manager to discuss and propose contingency arrangements to address the issues with staff numbers on night duty specifically in the unit described in the report, to discuss and formulate the provision of night manager and to discuss the contingency arrangements to enable this to happen.
St Patrick's Hospital also said a consultation process will need to be undertaken with all relevant bodies in conjunction with estates department to put together drawings that can map out bed spaces provide accommodation for "privacy" and "dignity."
The hospital said a provision of new residential accommodation for older people was included in the South Leitrim Area Development Plan in 2001.
Two new units were identified for older people in Ballinamore and Carrick-on-Shannon. Land was purchased and secured in both areas for the new units.
