Public (HSE)

St Fionnan's Community Nursing Unit

Achill Sound , F28 C996

Call 098 450 43

Fair Deal weekly price

€1,651

HSE cost of care, from 1 September 2026

Registered beds

HIQA maximum occupancy

Registered until

18 June 2027

Current registration since 19 June 2024

Inspection score

82/ 100

Mostly compliant

Steady

Ranked 11 of 24 scored homes in Co. Mayo · 2 of 2 within 25 km

Leadership and management82

Quality and safety of care82

What went into the score

11 June 2025 · counts 50%2 not compliant · 11 of 17 compliant · 81
6 June 2024 · counts 30%7 of 7 compliant · 100
12 January 2024 · counts 20%6 not compliant · 6 of 17 compliant · 57

Fair Deal price is 29% above the Co. Mayo median of €1,284 a week.

How we calculate this score

Every regulation HIQA judged on an inspection earns points: Compliant 100, Substantially compliant 65, Not compliant 25.
Where the compliance plan rates the risk of a failing regulation, orange (moderate risk) takes off 15 more points and red (high risk) takes off 40. Yellow (low risk) takes off nothing.
An inspection's score is the average over the regulations it looked at.
A home's score combines its last 3 inspections: the newest counts for 50%, the one before for 30% and the one before that for 20%. With fewer inspections the weights are scaled up to 100%.
The trend compares the newest inspection's score with the average of the earlier ones: 5 points or more higher is improving, 5 or more lower is declining, anything else is stable.
Homes are ranked by score within their county and among scored homes within 25 km. Homes with the same score share a rank.

Method v1. It uses only HIQA's published judgments, not our opinion, and is recalculated whenever a new report is published.

What the latest inspection found

St Fionnan's Community Nursing Unit is a well-managed, single-storey home in Achill Sound that provides long-term and respite care for up to 30 residents, including those with dementia and end-of-life needs. Residents feel safe, well cared for, and enjoy a homely environment with access to gardens and local amenities. However, the home is currently operating below capacity due to staffing shortages, which has led to reliance on agency staff and a temporary halt on new admissions. The premises are clean and comfortable, with good food and activities, but some maintenance and fire safety record-keeping need improvement.

Long-term care
Respite
Dementia care
Palliative care

What inspectors liked

Residents feel safe and well cared for by kind and attentive staff.
The environment is homely, clean, and well maintained with access to pleasant courtyard gardens.
Residents have access to a variety of meaningful activities and outings in the local community.
Food is varied, well presented, and residents are offered choices at mealtimes.
Staff receive mandatory and additional training to meet residents' needs and support their safety.

What needed to improve

There are significant staffing shortages with vacant nursing and healthcare assistant positions, impacting care delivery and leading to reliance on agency staff.
Some maintenance issues such as peeling paint and scuffed doors need attention to ensure cleanliness and safety.
Fire safety checks and record-keeping are inconsistent, with missing fire drill records and incomplete maintenance documentation.
One resident was observed eating lunch in an unsafe lying position without proper assistance.
Residents do not have access to a dietetic service, which is a repeat issue from previous inspections.

What residents said

“staff are kind and help me”
“I am happy here”

Staffing: There are several nursing and healthcare assistant vacancies, compounded by long-term staff absences. Agency staff supplement the team but this is not sustainable, leading to increased workload for existing staff. Staffing levels have caused the home to stop new admissions temporarily to maintain safety.
Activities: Residents enjoy a varied activities program including art therapy and outings in the centre's bus. Residents' meetings and questionnaires help shape social activities. Advocacy and community groups are accessible.
Food: Food is prepared on site, well presented, and residents are offered choices at each meal. Modified diets are provided as needed. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day. Some supervision issues were noted when meals were served in bedrooms.
Dementia: Residents with dementia care needs are accommodated and staff have training in responsive behaviour to support them appropriately.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 11 June 2025. Check the report for the full picture.Source report (PDF)

Inspection history

HIQA judges each regulation as Compliant Substantially compliant Not compliantRisk: Low Moderate High

11 June 2025
Announced inspection · published Sept 2025
11 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2025Not compliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Directory of residentsCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 11 June 2025Mostly
InsuranceCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2025Not compliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careLow risk · fix by 15 August 2025Mostly
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
End of lifeCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2025Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 11 June 2025Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
6 June 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Sept 2024
7 compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Governance and managementCompliant
Applications by registered providers for the variation or removal of conditions of registrationCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
PremisesCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Fire precautionsCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
12 January 2024
Unannounced inspection · published May 2024
6 compliant5 mostly6 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingLow risk · fix by 27 February 2024Mostly
Training and staff developmentLow risk · fix by 31 March 2024Mostly
RecordsCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 19 March 2024Not compliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 15 January 2024Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 27 February 2024Mostly
Health careModerate risk · fix by 27 February 2024Not compliant
ProtectionModerate risk · fix by 27 February 2024Mostly
Residents' rightsModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 27 February 2024Not compliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 7 March 2024Not compliant
Fire precautionsModerate risk · fix by 19 January 2024Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

This is the most the home can charge a week for residents on the Fair Deal scheme. Under Fair Deal you pay up to 80% of your income and 7.5% of the value of your assets a year, and the State pays the rest. Homes may charge extra for things like activities, hairdressing or newspapers, so ask about these when you call.

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE public homes	1 September 2026	€1,651

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Condition 1: Subject to any prohibitions or restrictions contained in any other condition(s), the designated centre shall be operated at all times in accordance with the Statement of Purpose within the footprint of the designated centre on the floor plan received 17 April 2024. The registered provider shall only provide for the specific care and support needs, and services, within the facilities as set out the Statement of Purpose, as agreed with the Chief Inspector at the time of registration. Any changes to the specific care and support needs and services provided must be agreed in advance with the Chief Inspector. Condition 2: Only persons aged 18 years or older shall be accommodated at the designated centre at any time. Condition 3: The maximum number of persons that may be accommodated at the designated centre is: 30.

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

St. Brendan's High Support Unit
Private
Westport, Co. Mayo· 11 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,333 / week
Inspection score
95
Beds
26 beds
Phone
098 36027
Pilgrims Rest Nursing Home
Private
Westport, Co. Mayo· 28 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,247 / week
Inspection score
90
Beds
33 beds
Phone
098 27 086
The Mac Bride Community Nursing Unit
Public (HSE)
Westport, Co. Mayo· 30 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,758 / week
Inspection score
79
Beds
29 beds
Phone
098 255 92
Áras Deirbhle Community Nursing Unit
Public (HSE)
Belmullet, Co. Mayo· 33 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€2,242 / week
Inspection score
71
Beds
30 beds
Phone
097 27 400 / 097 81 174
Sonas Nursing Home Belmullet
Private
Belmullet, Co. Mayo· 34 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,284 / week
Inspection score
87
Beds
48 beds
Phone
097 819 40
Sacred Heart Hospital Castlebar
Public (HSE)
Castlebar, Co. Mayo· 42 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€2,182 / week
Inspection score
89
Beds
74 beds
Phone
094 902 1122

Inspection score

82/ 100

Mostly compliant

Steady

Ranked 11 of 24 scored homes in Co. Mayo · 2 of 2 within 25 km

Leadership and management82

Quality and safety of care82

What went into the score

11 June 2025 · counts 50%2 not compliant · 11 of 17 compliant · 81
6 June 2024 · counts 30%7 of 7 compliant · 100
12 January 2024 · counts 20%6 not compliant · 6 of 17 compliant · 57

Fair Deal price is 29% above the Co. Mayo median of €1,284 a week.

How we calculate this score

Every regulation HIQA judged on an inspection earns points: Compliant 100, Substantially compliant 65, Not compliant 25.
Where the compliance plan rates the risk of a failing regulation, orange (moderate risk) takes off 15 more points and red (high risk) takes off 40. Yellow (low risk) takes off nothing.
An inspection's score is the average over the regulations it looked at.
A home's score combines its last 3 inspections: the newest counts for 50%, the one before for 30% and the one before that for 20%. With fewer inspections the weights are scaled up to 100%.
The trend compares the newest inspection's score with the average of the earlier ones: 5 points or more higher is improving, 5 or more lower is declining, anything else is stable.
Homes are ranked by score within their county and among scored homes within 25 km. Homes with the same score share a rank.

Method v1. It uses only HIQA's published judgments, not our opinion, and is recalculated whenever a new report is published.

What the latest inspection found

Long-term care
Respite
Dementia care
Palliative care

What inspectors liked

Residents feel safe and well cared for by kind and attentive staff.
The environment is homely, clean, and well maintained with access to pleasant courtyard gardens.
Residents have access to a variety of meaningful activities and outings in the local community.
Food is varied, well presented, and residents are offered choices at mealtimes.
Staff receive mandatory and additional training to meet residents' needs and support their safety.

What needed to improve

There are significant staffing shortages with vacant nursing and healthcare assistant positions, impacting care delivery and leading to reliance on agency staff.
Some maintenance issues such as peeling paint and scuffed doors need attention to ensure cleanliness and safety.
Fire safety checks and record-keeping are inconsistent, with missing fire drill records and incomplete maintenance documentation.
One resident was observed eating lunch in an unsafe lying position without proper assistance.
Residents do not have access to a dietetic service, which is a repeat issue from previous inspections.

What residents said

“staff are kind and help me”
“I am happy here”

Staffing: There are several nursing and healthcare assistant vacancies, compounded by long-term staff absences. Agency staff supplement the team but this is not sustainable, leading to increased workload for existing staff. Staffing levels have caused the home to stop new admissions temporarily to maintain safety.
Activities: Residents enjoy a varied activities program including art therapy and outings in the centre's bus. Residents' meetings and questionnaires help shape social activities. Advocacy and community groups are accessible.
Food: Food is prepared on site, well presented, and residents are offered choices at each meal. Modified diets are provided as needed. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day. Some supervision issues were noted when meals were served in bedrooms.
Dementia: Residents with dementia care needs are accommodated and staff have training in responsive behaviour to support them appropriately.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 11 June 2025. Check the report for the full picture.Source report (PDF)

Inspection history

HIQA judges each regulation as Compliant Substantially compliant Not compliantRisk: Low Moderate High

11 June 2025
Announced inspection · published Sept 2025
11 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2025Not compliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Directory of residentsCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 11 June 2025Mostly
InsuranceCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2025Not compliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careLow risk · fix by 15 August 2025Mostly
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
End of lifeCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2025Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 11 June 2025Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
6 June 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Sept 2024
7 compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Governance and managementCompliant
Applications by registered providers for the variation or removal of conditions of registrationCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
PremisesCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Fire precautionsCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
12 January 2024
Unannounced inspection · published May 2024
6 compliant5 mostly6 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingLow risk · fix by 27 February 2024Mostly
Training and staff developmentLow risk · fix by 31 March 2024Mostly
RecordsCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 19 March 2024Not compliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 15 January 2024Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 27 February 2024Mostly
Health careModerate risk · fix by 27 February 2024Not compliant
ProtectionModerate risk · fix by 27 February 2024Mostly
Residents' rightsModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 27 February 2024Not compliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 7 March 2024Not compliant
Fire precautionsModerate risk · fix by 19 January 2024Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE public homes	1 September 2026	€1,651

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

St. Brendan's High Support Unit

Private

Westport, Co. Mayo· 11 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,333 / week
Inspection score: 95
Beds: 26 beds
Phone: 098 36027

Pilgrims Rest Nursing Home

Private

Westport, Co. Mayo· 28 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,247 / week
Inspection score: 90
Beds: 33 beds
Phone: 098 27 086

The Mac Bride Community Nursing Unit

Public (HSE)

Westport, Co. Mayo· 30 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,758 / week
Inspection score: 79
Beds: 29 beds
Phone: 098 255 92

Áras Deirbhle Community Nursing Unit

Public (HSE)

Belmullet, Co. Mayo· 33 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €2,242 / week
Inspection score: 71
Beds: 30 beds
Phone: 097 27 400 / 097 81 174

Sonas Nursing Home Belmullet

Private

Belmullet, Co. Mayo· 34 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,284 / week
Inspection score: 87
Beds: 48 beds
Phone: 097 819 40

Sacred Heart Hospital Castlebar

Public (HSE)

Castlebar, Co. Mayo· 42 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €2,182 / week
Inspection score: 89
Beds: 74 beds
Phone: 094 902 1122