Public (HSE)

Sliabh Bladhma Lodge

Irishtown, Mountmellick, R32HK85

Call 057 864 4782

Fair Deal weekly price

€2,476

HSE cost of care, from 1 September 2026

Registered beds

HIQA maximum occupancy

Registered until

10 April 2027

Current registration since 11 April 2024

Inspection score

89/ 100

Strong inspection record

Steady

Ranked 1 of 5 scored homes in Co. Laois · 2 of 8 within 25 km

Leadership and management86

Quality and safety of care92

What went into the score

14 July 2026 · counts 50%5 of 8 compliant · 87
6 March 2025 · counts 30%9 of 12 compliant · 91
15 May 2024 · counts 20%8 of 11 compliant · 91

Fair Deal price is 90% above the Co. Laois median of €1,304 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. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit is a well-managed nursing home where residents receive good, person-centred care from attentive and caring staff. Residents generally feel safe and enjoy a variety of activities and good food. However, some parts of the building, especially the outdoor areas of the dementia unit (St. Martha's), are in poor condition and need repair and maintenance. A new 50-bed extension has been built, and most residents will move there once it is registered, but those in the dementia unit will remain in the older building.

Long-term care
Dementia care
Palliative care

What inspectors liked

Staff are attentive, caring, and know residents well.
Residents enjoy a variety of meaningful activities including outings, music, baking, and religious services.
Mealtimes are relaxed with good food choices and support for residents with special dietary needs.
There is a clear management structure with good governance and oversight.
Staff feel supported and receive training, including safeguarding and end-of-life care.

What needed to improve

Some areas of the building show wear and tear, including damaged paintwork and woodwork.
Outdoor spaces, especially in the dementia unit, are poorly maintained with uneven paths and unsuitable garden furniture, posing trip hazards.
Not all resident-used areas have emergency call-bell facilities, such as the occupational kitchen.
Residents' personal records were sometimes stored insecurely in corridors.
Some resident contracts did not fully specify bedroom details as required.

What residents said

“oh the staff are excellent, they're so, so good”
“they are great, really wonderful”
“the food is very nice”
“the food is delicious here”
“I'm not worried about moving over to my new room, I'll just go with the flow”

Staffing: There are sufficient staff on duty with a good skill mix including nurses, care assistants, and activity coordinators. Staff have worked in the centre for many years and know residents well. Staff feel supported by management and receive ongoing training.
Activities: Residents have access to a wide range of activities including weekly shopping trips, exercise, ball games, story-telling, reminiscence, music, baking, painting, colouring, and attending Mass in the on-site chapel. Outdoor spaces are used for socialising and games.
Food: Residents are offered a choice of nutritious meals with options for special diets and modified textures. Mealtimes are relaxed and staff assist residents respectfully. Residents can request alternatives to the daily menu and enjoy tasting experiences even if they cannot eat normally.
Dementia: Has a dedicated dementia unit. St. Martha's unit is a dedicated dementia-specific unit. Residents there will not move to the new extension. The outdoor garden area for this unit is poorly maintained and presents safety hazards. Residents in this unit have access to meaningful activities and care plans are person-centred.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 14 July 2026. 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

14 July 2026
Unannounced inspection · published Oct 2026
5 compliant3 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
RecordsLow risk · fix by 15 July 2026Mostly
Governance and managementCompliant
Contract for the provision of servicesLow risk · fix by 21 July 2026Mostly
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2026Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
6 March 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Jun 2025
9 compliant3 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 30 April 2025Mostly
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 30 April 2025Mostly
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 30 May 2025Mostly
Residents' rightsCompliant
VisitsCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Risk managementCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
15 May 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Aug 2024
8 compliant3 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementCompliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 31 May 2024Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careCompliant
ProtectionLow risk · fix by 1 August 2024Mostly
Residents' rightsCompliant
VisitsCompliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 15 September 2024Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
23 August 2023
Unannounced inspection · published Dec 2023
1 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 1 December 2023Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
PremisesLow risk · fix by 15 December 2023Mostly
Fire precautionsHigh risk · fix by 1 September 2023Not 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	€2,476

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 on 30/07/2024. 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: 60

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

St Brigid's Hospital
Public (HSE)
Portlaoise, Co. Laois· 6.2 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€2,730 / week
Inspection score
76
Beds
23 beds
Phone
057 864 6717
Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home
Private
Portlaoise, Co. Laois· 8.4 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,270 / week
Inspection score
76
Beds
74 beds
Phone
057 866 3600
The Residence Portlaoise
Private
Portlaoise, Co. Laois· 8.6 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,277 / week
Inspection score
40
Beds
73 beds
Phone
057 869 9850
Oakdale Nursing Home
Private
Portarlington, Co. Laois· 9.7 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,304 / week
Inspection score
88
Beds
58 beds
Phone
057 864 5282
Carthage Nursing Home
Private
Tullamore, Co. Offaly· 22 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,281 / week
Inspection score
81
Beds
59 beds
Phone
057 935 2863
Riada House Community Nursing Unit
Public (HSE)
Tullamore, Co. Offaly· 22 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,895 / week
Inspection score
88
Beds
35 beds
Phone
057 935 9985

Inspection score

89/ 100

Strong inspection record

Steady

Ranked 1 of 5 scored homes in Co. Laois · 2 of 8 within 25 km

Leadership and management86

Quality and safety of care92

What went into the score

14 July 2026 · counts 50%5 of 8 compliant · 87
6 March 2025 · counts 30%9 of 12 compliant · 91
15 May 2024 · counts 20%8 of 11 compliant · 91

Fair Deal price is 90% above the Co. Laois median of €1,304 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
Dementia care
Palliative care

What inspectors liked

Staff are attentive, caring, and know residents well.
Residents enjoy a variety of meaningful activities including outings, music, baking, and religious services.
Mealtimes are relaxed with good food choices and support for residents with special dietary needs.
There is a clear management structure with good governance and oversight.
Staff feel supported and receive training, including safeguarding and end-of-life care.

What needed to improve

Some areas of the building show wear and tear, including damaged paintwork and woodwork.
Outdoor spaces, especially in the dementia unit, are poorly maintained with uneven paths and unsuitable garden furniture, posing trip hazards.
Not all resident-used areas have emergency call-bell facilities, such as the occupational kitchen.
Residents' personal records were sometimes stored insecurely in corridors.
Some resident contracts did not fully specify bedroom details as required.

What residents said

“oh the staff are excellent, they're so, so good”
“they are great, really wonderful”
“the food is very nice”
“the food is delicious here”
“I'm not worried about moving over to my new room, I'll just go with the flow”

Staffing: There are sufficient staff on duty with a good skill mix including nurses, care assistants, and activity coordinators. Staff have worked in the centre for many years and know residents well. Staff feel supported by management and receive ongoing training.
Activities: Residents have access to a wide range of activities including weekly shopping trips, exercise, ball games, story-telling, reminiscence, music, baking, painting, colouring, and attending Mass in the on-site chapel. Outdoor spaces are used for socialising and games.
Food: Residents are offered a choice of nutritious meals with options for special diets and modified textures. Mealtimes are relaxed and staff assist residents respectfully. Residents can request alternatives to the daily menu and enjoy tasting experiences even if they cannot eat normally.
Dementia: Has a dedicated dementia unit. St. Martha's unit is a dedicated dementia-specific unit. Residents there will not move to the new extension. The outdoor garden area for this unit is poorly maintained and presents safety hazards. Residents in this unit have access to meaningful activities and care plans are person-centred.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 14 July 2026. 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

14 July 2026
Unannounced inspection · published Oct 2026
5 compliant3 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
RecordsLow risk · fix by 15 July 2026Mostly
Governance and managementCompliant
Contract for the provision of servicesLow risk · fix by 21 July 2026Mostly
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2026Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
6 March 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Jun 2025
9 compliant3 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 30 April 2025Mostly
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 30 April 2025Mostly
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 30 May 2025Mostly
Residents' rightsCompliant
VisitsCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Risk managementCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
15 May 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Aug 2024
8 compliant3 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementCompliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 31 May 2024Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careCompliant
ProtectionLow risk · fix by 1 August 2024Mostly
Residents' rightsCompliant
VisitsCompliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 15 September 2024Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
23 August 2023
Unannounced inspection · published Dec 2023
1 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 1 December 2023Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
PremisesLow risk · fix by 15 December 2023Mostly
Fire precautionsHigh risk · fix by 1 September 2023Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE public homes	1 September 2026	€2,476

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

St Brigid's Hospital

Public (HSE)

Portlaoise, Co. Laois· 6.2 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €2,730 / week
Inspection score: 76
Beds: 23 beds
Phone: 057 864 6717

Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home

Private

Portlaoise, Co. Laois· 8.4 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,270 / week
Inspection score: 76
Beds: 74 beds
Phone: 057 866 3600

The Residence Portlaoise

Private

Portlaoise, Co. Laois· 8.6 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,277 / week
Inspection score: 40
Beds: 73 beds
Phone: 057 869 9850

Oakdale Nursing Home

Private

Portarlington, Co. Laois· 9.7 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,304 / week
Inspection score: 88
Beds: 58 beds
Phone: 057 864 5282

Carthage Nursing Home

Private

Tullamore, Co. Offaly· 22 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,281 / week
Inspection score: 81
Beds: 59 beds
Phone: 057 935 2863

Riada House Community Nursing Unit

Public (HSE)

Tullamore, Co. Offaly· 22 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,895 / week
Inspection score: 88
Beds: 35 beds
Phone: 057 935 9985