Safety failures at care homes ‘spine-chilling’
SCOTTISH care homes have been accused of “spine-chilling” breaches of Covid-19 safety and human rights.
Safety failings, poor compliance with PPE and human rights infringements have been found during elderly care home inspections by the Care Inspectorate.
Out of 31 homes inspected across Scotland, 42 per cent were given the lowest possible rating of weak or unsatisfactory.
None were described as “excellent”, while four were issued with urgent improvement notices – with many of the concerns related to how staff in homes are managing Covid-19 risks.
Inspectors also identified excessive use of physical restraint, residents not having enough access to fluids and inadequate support for those experiencing pain or distress.
The Care Inspectorate is now required to publish the findings of all its inspections fortnightly following pressure by Monica Lennon, Labour’s health spokeswoman.
Lennon said: “The Care Inspectorate has uncovered spinechilling examples of unsafe care and human rights breaches.
“Poor cleanliness, inappropriate use of PPE and sloppy infection prevention and control are not acceptable.
“Inspectors have identified excessive use of physical restraint, residents not having enough access to fluids and inadequate support for those experiencing pain or distress.
“This is inhumane and reinforces Scottish Labour’s concerns about the postcode lottery of care in Scotland’s care homes.”
A total of 168 care homes have been inspected from June to October and 50 were rated weak.
At Guthrie House in Edinburgh, run by the Four Seasons Healthcare Group, several areas of the home were described as “contaminated”, while compliance with PPE was found to be poor.
At Wellmeadow Lodge in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, run by Care UK Limited, staff had not received training specific to Covid-19 and were not always using PPE correctly.
The home was rated “weak” in all three categories relating to health and wellbeing of residents, infection control and staffing.
Inspectors raised concerns about “high levels” of restraint at ASC Orchard Court and Dalguise in Balbeggie, near Perth, which provides care for people with learning disabilities.
The Care Inspectorate was sufficiently concerned to make adult protection referrals to health and social care bosses.
Care homes rated highly included Lynemore in Grantown-on-Spey, Highlands, Jewel House in Edinburgh, Cowdray Club in Aberdeen and Craigbank Care Home in Glasgow.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights. Where areas of weakness are identified, a multi-agency approach helps to ensure staff are supported to make those improvements.”