Care homes ordered to improve

A care provider has been ordered to make urgent improvements to three of its properties after a breakdown of heating systems through freezing conditions.

Care Inspectorate officers issued reports on Ashford House in Bridge of Allan and Ashlea House and Ashwood House, both Callander.

Conditions in the Mauricare Homes properties caused “significant concerns” over their heating systems, with two of them suffering an “unacceptable” drop in temperatures.

A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “Most care homes perform well, but every person living in every care home is entitled to high-quality, compassionate care.

“Where heating systems break down, care homes must have alternative plans that are put in place quickly.

“We have served these formal improvement notices to ensure that the care improves quickly and that residents experience a quality of care which they have the right to expect.

“We will continue to monitor all three care homes and will visit each one to check on progress.”

Inspectors who visited Ashlea House and Ashwood House in the last week of February found heating systems had broken down.

A Mauricare Homes spokesman said: “We have since put in robust measures and systems to better face any such eventualities.”