Nursing homes told they must improve

TWO Yorkshire nursing homes have been ordered to improve the care they give elderly residents after Government inspectors found a series of failings in unannounced inspections, including errors in medication dosage, and residents being left in dirty clothes.

Both Corinthian House care home in Upper Wortley, Leeds, and Athorpe Lodge, in Dinnington, near Rotherham, were told to make immediate changes.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited the Leeds home on November 8 and the Rotherham home the following day and subsequently issued warnings and deadlines for both homes to implement their requirements.

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The CQC said that the owner of the Leeds home, city-based Maria Mallaband Care Group “had failed to take appropriate steps to ensure that people living there were being treated with dignity and respect”.

Inspectors found some of those living in the home were left wearing dirty or stained clothes and not assisted to change, and male residents were not always offered a daily shave.

Concerns were also raised that there were too few staff on duty, which meant the needs of residents were not being adequately met. This “was particularly evident at meal times when residents requiring help to eat their food were left waiting for lengthy periods of time unassisted”.

Individual care plans were not accurately followed by staff and confidential information about people living in the home, which caters for up to 70 residents, was left in communal areas and not stored securely.

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At the home in Rotherham, the CQC team found that the owner Athorpe Health Care Ltd was “failing to meet Government standards in relation to the safeguarding of residents and the management of medicines”.

In their report inspectors noted that procedures for reporting “safeguarding incidents” were not followed correctly, meaning residents were not being adequately protected from the risk of abuse.

They also found evidence of a failure to adhere to so-called “deprivation of liberty safeguarding protocols” and noted that one resident had been kept under lock and key without the correct authorisation.

The home, which can accommodate 90 people, was also said to be failing to protect residents in the recording, handling, administration and use of medicines. Some care records did not provide the correct dosage information, meaning some residents were receiving more than the recommended amount of medication.

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In addition, there was not clear procedure followed when administering medicines prescribed “as required”, and the protocols for giving additional medication were not clearly documented.

Both homes received official warning notices from the CQC and were told the issues identified had to be addressed by the close of the year.

Unannounced follow-up visits will now take place and if sufficient improvements have not been taken the owners will face legal action.

Jo Dent, regional director of CQC in the Yorkshire and Humberside region said: “The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.

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“This warning sends a clear and public message that these providers need to address these issues as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.

“Our inspectors will return to both premises in the near future and if we find that the provider is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there.”

A spokesman for Corinthian House said that steps were taken immediately to rectify the issues raised by CQC.

They added: “Corinthian House is confident that standards have improved and staff look forward to demonstrating this to CQC on their next visit.”

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An Athorpe Lodge spokesman said last night: “We take all our regulatory requirements seriously and have worked tirelessly to resolve the matters highlighted by the regulators.

“Additional enhanced training has been provided for all staff and the home continues to be supported by senior staff until all requirements with regulators are met.

“We are open and transparent in all our dealings and the home is always pleased to arrange a visit to demonstrate the high standards of care we offer.”