The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Inspectors slam poor hygiene at Fife care home
HEALTH: Lack of cleaning put residents at Covid-19 risk
Mattresses and toileting aids at a Fife care home were contaminated with bodily fluids when inspectors visited.
Inadequate cleaning at Chapel Level Care Home in Kirkcaldy meant vulnerable residents were not properly protected from Covid-19.
The Care Inspectorate found a significant amount of equipment was contaminated, while wooden hand rails, skirting boards and door frames were chipped, which made them difficult to clean.
The care regulator issued a “serious concerns” letter ordering immediate improvements following its September visit.
The home is owned by HC-One, Britain’s largest care home operator, and has remained Covid- free throughout the pandemic.
A spokesperson for the company said it had taken the findings very seriously and had immediately rectified the issues of concern.
“The health, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff are an absolute priority,” they said.
Inspectors visiting a Fife care home found mattresses and pressure cushions contaminated with bodily fluids.
The Care Inspectorate said vulnerable residents at Chapel Level Nursing Home in Kirkcaldy were not appropriately protected from Covid-19 due to the contamination of a significant amount of equipment, which also included crash mats and toileting aids.
Wooden hand rails, skirting boards and door frames along the home’s corridors were found to be chipped, with peeling paint, which made them difficult to clean, while freshly laundered items were stored in an area contaminated with dust and debris.
The inspectors described the cleaning as inadequate.
They also found staff were wearing vinyl gloves to deliver personal care, which they are not suitable for, and nitrile gloves were not readily available at PPE stations.
They were so worried they ruled the care and support offered to residents during the coronavirus pandemic was weak and issued a “serious concerns” letter ordering immediate improvements.
Chapel Level is owned by HC- One, one of the UK’s biggest care home providers, and has remained Covid-free throughout the pandemic.
HC-One said it took the Care Inspectorate’ s comments very seriously and had immediately rectified the issues raised.
In their report, the inspectors said: “During an outbreak of Covid-19, the application of strict infection-control procedures is paramount to make sure people are safe.
“People using the service should be able to expect an environment that is well looked after with clean, tidy, well-maintained premises, furnishings and equipment.
“However, we found that a significant amount of equipment inspected was contaminated with body fluids.
“This included mattresses, crash mats, pressure-relieving cushions and toileting aids.”
They ruled five mattresses were not fit for purpose and must be replaced.
They also ordered managers to ensure robust cleaning of all equipment in the home was undertaken, and a schedule of deep cleaning implemented.
“People experiencing care were not appropriately protected because there was inadequate cleaning,” they said.
The Care Inspectorate revisited the home two days later and found all the requirements had been met.
They also pointed to a number of positive aspects of care within Chapel Level, including regular contact with family and friends via phone calls and video chats during lockdown.
Staff and essential visitors had their temperatures recorded and hand san it iser was available throughout the care home.
In addition, all new residents to the home were kept in isolation for 14 days, in line with Scottish Government guidance.
A spokesperson for HCOne said the health, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff were “an absolute priority”.
“We take all feedback from the Care Inspectorate very seriously,” they said.
“Alongside much positive feedback about the overall quality of care being provided, the kindness of the staff team, and the robustness of the home’s infection control plan, we were disappointed that inspectors found some elements of this plan were not being fully implemented.”