‘Inadequate’ rating for care home
INSPECTORS WERE ‘NOT ASSURED’ THAT GUIDANCE ON COVID WAS BEING FOLLOWED
COVID guidance was not effectively followed and medicines were not managed safely at a Mansfield care home, say inspectors.
The Limes Care Home, on Park Road, was given an overall “inadequate” rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after receiving the lowest possible rating in safety and leadership following an inspection in July.
The report, published on September 3, said that inspectors were “not assured” that the home was following Government guidance on Covid, and that medicine protocols “contained incorrect information”.
“Government guidelines relating to Covid-19 were not being effectively followed,” stated the CQC.
“Infection control measures in place were not enough to prevent the spread of Covid-19 which placed people at risk.
“We were not assured that the provider was meeting shielding, isolation and social distancing rules.
“We found that following hospital stays, on their return to the service, people were not isolated according to Government guidance.”
A number of other safety risks were identified by the inspection, such as the absence of risk assessments in relation to catheter care and stoma care and “inadequate” fire safety measures.
The report stated: “People’s personal emergency evacuation plans did not contain sufficient detail to keep people safe in the event of a fire. This meant there was a risk people may not get out safely in case of an emergency.”
It marks a step down for the home, which cares for 10 people aged 65 and over, after it received a “requires improvement” rating last year.
Nathan Young, who was appointed manager of the home four weeks ago, told the Post that the home’s bosses were “appalled” by the findings.
He said an internal investigation is currently being carried out.
“I immediately wrote an initial action plan based solely on the report and my findings after week one, I have then set about the task to turn around the Limes in a timely manner,” he added.
“I have addressed all concerns the CQC had; I have worked with the home’s owners to ensure the issues raised will not happen again. The staff and I are committed to making the Limes a lovely place to live for our current and future residents.”