Private

The Four Ferns

Brighton Road, Foxrock, D18 AX22

Call 01 912 3940

Fair Deal weekly price

€1,400

HSE list #230, 4 September 2026

Registered beds

179

HIQA maximum occupancy

Registered until

24 November 2028

Current registration since 25 November 2025

Inspection score

78/ 100

Mostly compliant

Steady

Ranked 65 of 103 scored homes in Co. Dublin · 69 of 110 within 25 km

Leadership and management85

Quality and safety of care72

What went into the score

6 August 2025 · counts 50%2 not compliant · 9 of 15 compliant · 79
27 January 2025 · counts 30%4 of 12 compliant · 77
21 August 2024 · counts 20%3 not compliant · 11 of 18 compliant · 77

Fair Deal price is about the same as the Co. Dublin median of €1,413 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

The Four Ferns is a well-run nursing home in Foxrock, Dublin, with kind and caring staff who support residents to enjoy a good quality of life. The centre offers single and twin bedrooms with en suite facilities and provides 24-hour nursing care. Residents and visitors expressed satisfaction with the care and activities available. However, inspectors found some issues with infection control, night supervision, and care planning that need improvement.

Long-term care
Dementia care

What inspectors liked

Residents described staff as kind and caring and were happy with their care.
The centre provides a calm and relaxed atmosphere with respectful care.
There is a good variety of activities including mens club, bridge club, sing-a-longs, and days out.
The centre is visibly clean and odour free with good environmental hygiene practices.
Management and staff are approachable and responsive to concerns.

What needed to improve

Insufficient night supervision leading to lack of resident and staff oversight.
Staff were not consistently wearing appropriate personal protective equipment during a COVID-19 outbreak.
Access to the centre was not properly supervised; inspectors were admitted without verification.
Care plans, especially end-of-life plans, lacked detailed, person-centred information.
Hand hygiene facilities were inadequate; alcohol hand gel was not readily available at point of care for all residents.

What residents said

“I have been here for a few years now and I am very happy with everything”
“The staff are just wonderful”
“I am satisfied with how concerns were managed”
“The activities are great and the activity co-ordinators are brilliant”

Staffing: There was an appropriate level of clinical and support staff during the inspection, including a minimum of two nurses on duty 24 hours. However, night supervision was insufficient and is under review by management.
Activities: There is a wide range of activities including mens club, bridge club, sing-a-longs, word games, and days out. Activity notice boards and photos of events are displayed throughout the centre.
Food: Residents have a choice of meals and can dine in the dining room or in their bedrooms. Staff provide support during meals. Residents reported satisfaction with the food and dining experience.
Dementia: Has a dedicated dementia unit. The Tall Trees memory unit operates on the ground floor with plans to open additional floors once staffing is sufficient. The unit has some premises issues such as lack of clinical hand wash basins in clean utility rooms.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 6 August 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

6 August 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Oct 2025
9 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Directory of residentsCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 31 October 2025Mostly
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2025Not compliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Application for registration or renewal of registrationCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careCompliant
End of lifeLow risk · fix by 31 October 2025Mostly
PremisesLow risk · fix by 15 October 2025Mostly
Temporary absence or discharge of residentsLow risk · fix by 20 September 2025Mostly
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 1 October 2026Not compliant
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
27 January 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Mar 2025
4 compliant8 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Directory of residentsLow risk · fix by 15 March 2025Mostly
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 15 April 2025Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 15 April 2025Mostly
Managing behaviour that is challengingLow risk · fix by 15 April 2025Mostly
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 March 2025Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 15 March 2025Mostly
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 31 March 2025Mostly
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesLow risk · fix by 15 March 2025Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
21 August 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Jan 2025
11 compliant4 mostly3 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
RecordsCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 30 November 2024Not compliant
Contract for the provision of servicesCompliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 30 November 2024Mostly
Health careCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 13 December 2024Mostly
Food and nutritionLow risk · fix by 31 August 2024Mostly
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 31 October 2024Mostly
Fire precautionsModerate risk · fix by 31 August 2024Not compliant
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesModerate risk · fix by 14 November 2024Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
21 September 2023
Announced inspection · published Apr 2024
10 compliant3 mostly3 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
StaffingCompliant
InsuranceCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 29 December 2023Not compliant
Contract for the provision of servicesLow risk · fix by 25 January 2024Mostly
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Health careCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsModerate risk · fix by 14 February 2024Not compliant
VisitsCompliant
Personal possessionsLow risk · fix by 29 December 2023Mostly
PremisesLow risk · fix by 14 February 2024Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Risk managementCompliant
Fire precautionsModerate risk · fix by 29 December 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 Section 40 #230	4 September 2026	€1,400

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 plans received on 14 July 2026. 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: 179.

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

Foxrock Nursing Home
Private
Foxrock, Co. Dublin· 1.4 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,418 / week
Inspection score
85
Beds
40 beds
Phone
01 289 6885
Leopardstown Care Centre
Private
Dublin 18, Co. Dublin· 1.6 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,415 / week
Inspection score
64
Beds
150 beds
Phone
01 517 0175
Leopardstown Park Hospital
Public (HSE)
Foxrock, Co. Dublin· 2.3 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€2,328 / week
Inspection score
56
Beds
120 beds
Phone
01 295 5055
Ashbury Nursing Home
Private
Blackrock, Co. Dublin· 2.5 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,424 / week
Inspection score
59
Beds
91 beds
Phone
01 284 1266
Belmont House Private Nursing Home
Private
Stillorgan, Co. Dublin· 2.6 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,407 / week
Inspection score
68
Beds
156 beds
Phone
01 278 4393
Glebe House Nursing Home
Private
Kilternan, Co. Dublin· 2.7 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,418 / week
Inspection score
75
Beds
54 beds
Phone
01 406 6414

Inspection score

78/ 100

Mostly compliant

Steady

Ranked 65 of 103 scored homes in Co. Dublin · 69 of 110 within 25 km

Leadership and management85

Quality and safety of care72

What went into the score

6 August 2025 · counts 50%2 not compliant · 9 of 15 compliant · 79
27 January 2025 · counts 30%4 of 12 compliant · 77
21 August 2024 · counts 20%3 not compliant · 11 of 18 compliant · 77

Fair Deal price is about the same as the Co. Dublin median of €1,413 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

What inspectors liked

Residents described staff as kind and caring and were happy with their care.
The centre provides a calm and relaxed atmosphere with respectful care.
There is a good variety of activities including mens club, bridge club, sing-a-longs, and days out.
The centre is visibly clean and odour free with good environmental hygiene practices.
Management and staff are approachable and responsive to concerns.

What needed to improve

Insufficient night supervision leading to lack of resident and staff oversight.
Staff were not consistently wearing appropriate personal protective equipment during a COVID-19 outbreak.
Access to the centre was not properly supervised; inspectors were admitted without verification.
Care plans, especially end-of-life plans, lacked detailed, person-centred information.
Hand hygiene facilities were inadequate; alcohol hand gel was not readily available at point of care for all residents.

What residents said

“I have been here for a few years now and I am very happy with everything”
“The staff are just wonderful”
“I am satisfied with how concerns were managed”
“The activities are great and the activity co-ordinators are brilliant”

Staffing: There was an appropriate level of clinical and support staff during the inspection, including a minimum of two nurses on duty 24 hours. However, night supervision was insufficient and is under review by management.
Activities: There is a wide range of activities including mens club, bridge club, sing-a-longs, word games, and days out. Activity notice boards and photos of events are displayed throughout the centre.
Food: Residents have a choice of meals and can dine in the dining room or in their bedrooms. Staff provide support during meals. Residents reported satisfaction with the food and dining experience.
Dementia: Has a dedicated dementia unit. The Tall Trees memory unit operates on the ground floor with plans to open additional floors once staffing is sufficient. The unit has some premises issues such as lack of clinical hand wash basins in clean utility rooms.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 6 August 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

6 August 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Oct 2025
9 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Directory of residentsCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 31 October 2025Mostly
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2025Not compliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Application for registration or renewal of registrationCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careCompliant
End of lifeLow risk · fix by 31 October 2025Mostly
PremisesLow risk · fix by 15 October 2025Mostly
Temporary absence or discharge of residentsLow risk · fix by 20 September 2025Mostly
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 1 October 2026Not compliant
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
27 January 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Mar 2025
4 compliant8 mostly
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Directory of residentsLow risk · fix by 15 March 2025Mostly
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 15 April 2025Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 15 April 2025Mostly
Managing behaviour that is challengingLow risk · fix by 15 April 2025Mostly
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 March 2025Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 15 March 2025Mostly
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 31 March 2025Mostly
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesLow risk · fix by 15 March 2025Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
21 August 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Jan 2025
11 compliant4 mostly3 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
RecordsCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 30 November 2024Not compliant
Contract for the provision of servicesCompliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 30 November 2024Mostly
Health careCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 13 December 2024Mostly
Food and nutritionLow risk · fix by 31 August 2024Mostly
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 31 October 2024Mostly
Fire precautionsModerate risk · fix by 31 August 2024Not compliant
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesModerate risk · fix by 14 November 2024Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
21 September 2023
Announced inspection · published Apr 2024
10 compliant3 mostly3 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
StaffingCompliant
InsuranceCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 29 December 2023Not compliant
Contract for the provision of servicesLow risk · fix by 25 January 2024Mostly
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Health careCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsModerate risk · fix by 14 February 2024Not compliant
VisitsCompliant
Personal possessionsLow risk · fix by 29 December 2023Mostly
PremisesLow risk · fix by 14 February 2024Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Risk managementCompliant
Fire precautionsModerate risk · fix by 29 December 2023Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE Section 40 #230	4 September 2026	€1,400

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

Foxrock Nursing Home

Private

Foxrock, Co. Dublin· 1.4 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,418 / week
Inspection score: 85
Beds: 40 beds
Phone: 01 289 6885

Leopardstown Care Centre

Private

Dublin 18, Co. Dublin· 1.6 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,415 / week
Inspection score: 64
Beds: 150 beds
Phone: 01 517 0175

Leopardstown Park Hospital

Public (HSE)

Foxrock, Co. Dublin· 2.3 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €2,328 / week
Inspection score: 56
Beds: 120 beds
Phone: 01 295 5055

Ashbury Nursing Home

Private

Blackrock, Co. Dublin· 2.5 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,424 / week
Inspection score: 59
Beds: 91 beds
Phone: 01 284 1266

Belmont House Private Nursing Home

Private

Stillorgan, Co. Dublin· 2.6 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,407 / week
Inspection score: 68
Beds: 156 beds
Phone: 01 278 4393

Glebe House Nursing Home

Private

Kilternan, Co. Dublin· 2.7 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,418 / week
Inspection score: 75
Beds: 54 beds
Phone: 01 406 6414