THE HSE HAS taken over the running of a nursing home in Co Laois after the regulator for the sector found significant concerns in how the centre was run.

It follows a court order secured this afternoon by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) which found that “overall management of the centre was ineffective” in its most recent report on Droimnin Nursing Home in Stradbally.

Hiqa’s unannounced inspection – carried out last September – also found that a “number of residents” were “consistently in receipt of
sub-standard care” at the nursing home.

“This failure of governance and leadership placed all residents living in the designated centre at significant risk to their welfare and safety,” the Hiqa report alleged.

In a statement by Hiqa today, it confirmed that the case was taken in accordance with Section 59 of the Health Act 2007 at Portlaoise District Court, which cancelled the registration of Droimnin Nursing Home as a designated centre under Part 8 of the Health Act 2007.

The nursing home has 39 residents.

“In the interests of the health, safety and quality of life of the residents, and in accordance with Section 64 of the Health Act 2007, the Health Service Executive (HSE) was directed to take charge of the nursing home from 2pm on Wednesday 4 February 2026,” a Hiqa spokesperson said.

The Hiqa inspections took place over four days within a two week period in early September of last year.

In its recent report, the watchdog said “the food provided to residents was not wholesome and nutritious, nor did it reflect the prescriptions of health care professionals”.

There was also a failure to deliver food and nutrition to residents in line with regulatory requirements.

“Several residents who were prescribed therapeutic diets, tailored to their specific medical conditions, such as renal or diabetic diets, did not receive meals in line with their assessed needs,” the report said.

“In addition, residents who were at risk of choking or had impaired swallowing and were prescribed modified-consistency diets did not consistently receive meals in accordance with these prescriptions.”