Care row hits parliament
Hamilton’s failing home care service made the national agenda after being brought up at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, January 9.
Labour leader Richard Leonard said the situation was “unprecedented” and asked what would happen to the vulnerable people who depend on it.
A number of concerns have forced the Care Inspectorate to serve a formal improvement notice on South Lanarkshire Council.
Mr Leonard said: “Inspectors found that the hard working staff were feeling overwhelmed, stressed and frustrated, that care users were anxious, frightened and stressed, and that the service was ‘chaotic and disorganised’.
“The council must make changes by the end of the month or face the real prospect of the Care Inspectorate cancelling the service registration.”
The First Minister responded: “It is the council’s responsibility to take the actions that the Care Inspectorate has recommended or instructed to take and to ensure what Richard Leonard has outlined today does not happen.
“The government will continue to work with councils to ensure that they deliver the services that elderly people and everybody else across the country have a right to expect.”
Councillors across South Lanarkshire are now demanding improvement and Labour group leader Councillor Joe Fagan (East Kilbride Central North) was disappointed that the quality of care had declined so dramatically.
He said: “This notice has been served, in the Inspectorate’s own words, to improve leadership of the Hamilton home care service and to protect the health, welfare and safety of service users.
“This is deeply concerning and entirely without precedent in South Lanarkshire. Right now, the
Improvement Notice relates to Hamilton and the surrounding area but a disappointing inspection has also been published for the Rutherglen and Cambuslang home care service in which similar issues have emerged.
“I want to see a full explanation issued as soon as possible as to how our services ended up in this position as well as a point-by-point action plan to get home care back to where it should be.
“Home care staff and the people depending on them need to know that action is being taken at the highest level to support them and to safeguard these vital services.”
Home care services run by the council aim to help people remain as independent as they can in their own home.
This can involve a range of assistance from helping a person wash, get dressed or ready for bed to help with medication or even just making a cup of tea.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire’s minority SNP administration said: “Whilst disappointing, we accept the decision by the Care Inspectorate and are working closely with them to complete the improvement actions detailed in the report.
“The model of care provided by the council was designed and implemented in 2012 as a cost saving exercise by the previous administration and the improvement notice reflects that.
“The staff employed by the council are dedicated to providing the best possible care and we are confident that with strong leadership and an action plan which includes a redesign of the service we will meet and exceed the Care Inspectorate’s expectations.”
Hamilton West and Earnock’s Cllr Mark Mcgeever, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats group, added: “The Care Inspectorate’s findings are deeply worrying and will truly shock people across the town.
“When inspectors order immediate action to address ‘serious concerns’ there can be no doubt things have gone badly wrong.
“It is completely unacceptable for vulnerable residents and their families to be badly let down.
“Fixing these failings demands the urgent attention of the council’s political administration as well as the most senior appointed officers.
“As an opposition councillor I would expect all elected members should very quickly get a detailed report showing us what specific things are being done to resolve the problems.
“The Inspectorate is absolutely correct to insist everyone is entitled to safe and compassionate care that respects their rights and meets their needs. Elected representatives have to get answers, demand changes and make sure people really can trust that they and their loved ones will get exactly that.”
The South Lanarkshire Conservative group were contacted for comment.