Care home blasted over Legionnaires’ disease risk
ELDERLY residents were put at risk of catching Legionnaires’ disease at an inadequate care home.
Urmston Manor in Urmston also failed to improve fire safety after being told it required immediate improvement more than 12 months ago.
An inspection of the Church Road home by the Care Quality Commission in June concluded the care home put residents at risk of the potentially deadly pneumonia.
The report says: “During this inspection, we found other issues effecting the safety of the environment. The provider did not have a risk assessment in relation to legionella, and was not undertaking routine checks to help control the risks of legionella.
“Legionella is a type of bacteria that can develop in water systems and cause Legionnaires’ disease that can be dangerous, particularly to more vulnerable people such as older adults.”
Urmston Manor provides accommodation for over-65s who require nursing and personal care, some of whom are likely to suffer from dementia. But the report revealed one member of staff was allowed to start work without a criminal record check.
There was no call bell system and an intercom continually monitored sound from residents rooms. Inspectors said this failed to respect guests’ privacy. The home did not employ an activities co-ordinator and left no time for staff to organise activities for residents. However, its website says a hairdresser and chiropodist visit residents on a regular basis.
Debbie Westhead, the CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North, said: “If not enough improvement is made, we will take action in line with our enforcement policy to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service.
“The service did not have adequate oversight of the service and had failed to ensure timely action was taken in relation to serious concerns identified in a fire risk assessment. I find this worrying.
“People are entitled to services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care, consequently this service has been placed in special measures.”
In August 2016, inspectors visited the site and raised concerns over fire safety. There had been a small electrical fire at the property earlier that year. In response, Urmston Manor increased night time staff numbers to three and stopped admitting new residents. They also put their staff through refresher fire safety training.
The M.E.N. contacted Urmston Manor management for comment four times.