Undercover TV probe shocker
RECORDS were falsified and a man found sleeping with an emergency cord tangled around his body and neck during an undercover investigation at a North Wales care home.
The incidents were among a number seen by an S4C undercover journalist working at The Pines in Criccieth in August.
The investigation into the home specialising in care for elderly people with dementia was due to be broadcast on current affairs programme Y Byd ar Bedwar last night after the Herald went to press.
Using a hidden camera, the journalist saw incidents which are now being investigated by the care home.
One man was found by the journalist sleeping with an emergency cord tangled around his body and neck.
Another elderly resident was seen on his knees on the floor of his bedroom for two hours before staff lifted him up because he apparently liked to be on his knees. Senior care staff seemed to make light of it, stating he “looked like a Muslim praying” and that “he looks like me when I’ve lost an earring”.
The home’s owners said relevant staff members had been suspended pending a thorough investigation.
The Pines has been the subject of several critical reports by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) in recent years. It has transpired the home was again inspected by CIW on September 5 this year and, according to the owners, had addressed the issues raised in the non-compliance notices.
But last month, Y Byd ar Bedwar found that many of the issues raised in the previous CIW reports were still an issue at the home.
The CIW issued the programme a statement having viewed their undercover footage, stating: “We acknowledge the footage presented will be of concern to all who view it, and especially for the families of those involved. We would like to reassure everyone watching we have followed up all the issues of poor practice highlighted”
In a statement the care home owners said: “Since being provided with excerpts of the footage, we have commenced a thorough investigation into these matters.
“As a responsible provider, we recognised that improvements to our service were necessary following a previous report issued by CIW. We took immediate steps to implement those improvements. A full CIW re-inspection took place in September 2018 and CIW confirmed to us this month that The Pines is now compliant with all regulatory obligations. We will continue to work alongside CIW to ensure this remains the case and as part of our full investigation into the matters concerned.
“The health and wellbeing of our residents remains our absolute priority.”