In a Report presented to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and which was tabled in the House, the Auditor General reported that a weak audit trail rendered the entry procedure to the St. Vincent de Paul Residence (SVPR) unclear.    

It was reported that, generally, residents were satisfied with the level of medical and nursing/caring services provided.  The SVPR’s catering services were, however, poorly rated by the residents.  Moreover, leisure time available was not utilised by the residents due to a lack of organisational capabilities.  

The duties and responsibilities of the Admissions Board, which has been established since 1999, are not well defined.  The Board has no statute regulating its responsibilities, and members were only furnished with their Terms of Reference in April 2004.  

Patients classified as social cases were transferred from St. Luke’s Hospital to the Residence on the basis of the operational requirements of the former.  This situation arises since these patients are considered to be blocking beds at St. Luke’s Hospital. 

A survey carried out between 26 January and 14 February 2004 revealed that the vast majority of residents and their visitors were generally satisfied with the medical and caring services provided.  These services were, as a rule, provided courteously and with respect to the residents’ dignity.   

A minority of residents, in their replies, however, raised concerns relating to feedback on the medical condition and treatment being administered, on waiting/response times by doctors, nurses and care workers outside the normal rounds, on insufficient time for nurses and carers to listen to the residents’ needs, and on assistance provided by the opposite gender.  In addition, 12 per cent of residents and a further 12 per cent of visitors said that they have tipped nurses/care workers. 

The majority of residents gave a poor rating to the food provided.  The Residence does not employ a dietician who can plan meals for individuals suffering from particular medical conditions.    

Most of the free time available to residents was not being utilised.  This is mainly due to the lack of organisational capabilities at the Residence.   Moreover, as a rule, residents were not involved in the organisation of leisure activities or other aspects of ward operations.   

The NAO proposed recommendations aimed at rendering the admissions process more transparent and to improve the delivery of various services provided by the Residence.