Couple claim care home hit by Covid ‘victimised’

● Care Inspectorate is accused of an ‘amazing lack of judgment’

ASkye couple claim the operator of an island care home where 10 residents have died from Covid-19 has been “victimised” and should continue running it.

Cliff and Kim Edden want HC-One to stay in charge of Home Farm Care Home in Portree where Mrs Edden’s mother died and her father is a resident.

Home Farm is the subject of a large-scale investigation, led by NHS Highland which was brought in to help run the facility after the Covid outbreak which saw 30 residents and 29 staff test positive for the virus.

It followed the Care Inspectorate identifying “serious and significant concerns” over care there.

A court action to remove HC-One was deferred after substantial improvements were said to have been made.

The couple moved Mrs Edden’s parents to Skye from Yorkshire in 2018. Her mother, who had vascular dementia, died from Covid-19 in May. Her father, who has Parkinson’s disease, remains in the home.

They said both were happy with conditions and the care given by staff.

Mr Edden said the home was “hit hard and very suddenly” by the scale of positive testing, and the Care Inspectorate showed “amazing lack of judgment” by inspecting the facility when so many staff had to be sent home.

He also criticised the inspectorate for not curtailing the legal action despite improvements being made at the home.

“The Care Inspectorate has victimised Home Farm by not attempting to de-register other care homes that have also had cluster outbreaks. HC-One is being made a ‘test case’ when other care homes with cluster deaths are not.

“HC-One has admitted and apologised for the failures but we have yet to see any similar acceptance of responsibility from NHS Highland or the Care Inspectorate,” he said.

The couple say HC-One has been “sympathetic” and “responsive” and praised the “professionalism and dedication” of staff.

Mr and Mrs Edden say NHS Highland lifted a moratorium on new residents, to move patients from hospital to Home Farm without testing for Covid-19 beforehand, while additional NHS staff did not arrive until much later.

They say they have not been interviewed for the investigation and the health board is not in regular contact with residents’ families.

The Care Inspectorate said it is working with NHS Highland and others to ensure Home Farm residents have safe care and has noted some improvements at the home.

A spokeswoman said: “However, our concerns remain and we are continuing to seek the cancellation of the provider’s registration through the court.”

She said the situation is being monitored with regular visits.

NHS Highland said testing at Home Farm started when symptoms were suspected at the end of March and start of April.

A spokesman said the last admission to Home Farm was in late March, the home confirmed Covid-19 at the end of April and an outbreak was declared at the beginning of May which is when the health board stepped in.

He added: “HC-One is the primary care provider and its responsibility has been to communicate with care home residents and their families during this period.

“We encourage families with any concerns to contact the NHS Highland feedback team.”