‘Weak’ infection controls at care homes
CARE homes across Scotland are failing to meet basic standards of infection control, inspectors have found.
The Care Inspectorate graded 13 out of 30 care homes inspected over the past month as ‘weak’ and two as ‘unsatisfactory’ in protecting residents from infection.
It comes after thousands of residents died in care homes after being infected with Covid-19.
Even in homes with Covid deaths, concern was raised about compliance with infection control guidance. Inspectors also highlighted weaknesses in proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in care homes.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman recently admitted that when more than 1,300 elderly people were discharged from hospitals to care homes in the first wave of the pandemic, the Scottish Government failed to understand the
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From Saturday’s Mail
needs of the social care sector properly. She said it ‘didn’t take the right precautions to make sure that older people leaving hospital going into care homes were as safe as they could be and that was a mistake’.
A report published in October showed 113 people with Covid-19 were moved into care homes between March 1 and May 31.
Since June last year, 358 homes have been inspected at least once, with 101 graded ‘weak’ and 14 ‘unsatisfactory’.
Reports published over the past month show 13 of 30 homes investigated for the first time were ‘weak’ and two ‘unsatisfactory’.
Glenfairn care home in Ayr, where there were four Covid-related deaths in April last year, was rated ‘weak’ last month.
The report said: ‘We issued a letter of serious concern detailing the immediate actions the service was required to take.’
The watchdog said a later inspection noted progress but ‘cleanliness of care equipment was an area of concern’.
Auchtercrag care home in Ellon,
Aberdeenshire, was graded ‘weak’ with general cleanliness ‘poor’.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said the SNP’s record on care homes ‘has become a national scandal’.
It came as outgoing Labour MSP Neil Findlay called for time at Holyrood today – when the parliament reconvenes to pay tribute to Prince Philip, who died on Friday – for ministers to be quizzed on care homes.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Where weaknesses have been identified, the Care Inspectorate will carry out further inspection visits to ensure these are properly addressed.’
‘We issued letter of serious concern’