Inspectors find care home needs improvement on Covid protocols

A BRISTOL care home ‘requires improvement’ after an inspection identified issues with Covid-19 protocols.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Bishopsmead Lodge in January and found staff wearing PPE incorrectly and keyboards weren’t being properly cleaned, according to a report.

Inspectors were “not always assured” the care home, in Bishopsworth, was promoting safety through its hygiene practices, or making sure outbreaks could be effectively “prevented or managed.” They said they found “poor practice” in how staff were wearing and disposing of gloves and surgical masks.

Inspectors noted that the care home had experienced a short period when it was understaffed, due to a “higher than expected number of staff testing positive for Covid-19,” but added “at the time of the inspection the service was fully staffed.”

They also found examples of good practice, including people had been supported to keep in touch with families, social distancing was encouraged, and staff had access to PPE and had received training in infection prevention control.

A spokesperson from the healthcare provider which operates the care home, Four Seasons Health Care, said: “Our hard working teams strive each day to protect everyone in our homes while continuing to manage the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus.

“While we are pleased that the CQC noted several positive aspects of care in the home, we recognise that there were areas highlighted that needed improvement and after the inspection in January we swiftly implemented an action plan to address these issues.

“The safety and wellbeing of everyone in our homes remains our first priority.”