HIQA report finds staff ‘attentive and kind’ at Tipperary nursing home
Mostly positive reports for nursing home with improvements needed on nutrition
An unannounced HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) inspection of Bramleigh Lodge Nursing Home on the Cashel Road in Cahir earlier this year resulted in mostly positive reports from residents despite some areas of concern on inspection.
Bramleigh Lodge is registered to accommodate up to 26 residents. The single-storey facility close to the centre of Cahir comprises 14 single bedrooms and six twin bedrooms and provides long stay, respite, convalescent and dementia care on a 24-hour basis. It caters for both male and female residents requiring support with the following care needs: General care, Dementia care, Respite care, Palliative Care and Acquired Brain Injury Care. All nursing care is provided on a 24-hour basis.
The inspection took place on January 30, 2026 following a previous inspection two weeks prior that found some systems required strengthening to ensure regulatory compliance.
Overall, the inspection described the centre as being “well-run” with “established systems to monitor the quality of care and support provided to residents.” Residents were said to be highly complimentary of the staff who cared for them, describing them as ''super'', ''friendly'', ''attentive'' and ''kind''. One resident also described the person in charge as ''the loveliest person you would ever meet''. Residents and their loved ones were also complimentary of the activities and entertainment on offer at the facility.
The inspector documented observing “numerous compassionate, warm, dignified, and respectful interactions between residents and staff throughout the day of the inspection.”
Food and nutrition was the only area found to be non-compliant. While some residents described the food as ''good'', others responded neutrally, stating it was ''alright'' and ''middling'', while others expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and temperature of food served throughout the day.
The inspector also noted occasions in which residents who were either sleeping or required modified meals were not offered meals at certain times of the day. Menus were also described as being over-reliant on convenience food.
Overall, 14 regulations were assessed on the day of the inspection. Seven were found to be compliant, six were substantially compliant and one, food and nutrition, was found to be non-compliant.
A compliance plan to address the non-compliant judgement has been returned to HIQA, outlining actions being undertaken to bring Bramleigh Lodge Nursing Home to full compliance.
The compliance plan includes ensuring residents are offered a documented choice of two main meal options at both lunch and tea-time, digital food temperature monitoring logs and a reduction in the use of processed convenience foods.