Brain rehab unit told care must improve

Nicola Findlay A brain injury rehabilitation unit which treats patients from across Lanarkshire has been told it must improve its care urgently after an unannounced visit by inspectors.

T h e Hunt e r c o mbe S e r v i c e s – Mu r d o s t o u n B r a i n I n j u r y Rehabilitation Centre provides specialist assessment and rehabilitation healthcare services to people with varying degrees of brain injury.

I n s p e c t o r s f r o m Hea l t h c a r e Improvement Scotland rated the quality of care and support and management and leadership as ‘weak’.

The unit, situated near Wishaw, i s pr i vat el y operated but t akes referrals from NHS Lanarkshire and other health boards. The report states i t needs t o l i sten t o what clients say and use this to improve the ser vice it delivers ; develop a team approach to care planning and promote independence skills with clients t hrough i ncreasing choice and opportunities.

Speaking of t he report, Chief Inspector Susan Brimelow, said: “This i nspection has i dentified a n u mbe r o f i mpor t a n t a r e a s where Murdostoun Brain Injur y Rehabilitation Centre must improve. This inspection resulted in five new requirements and 10 new recommendations which Four Seasons Health Care Properties (Frenchay) Limited must address as a matter of priority.

“However, we noted areas where the ser vice was performing well such as medication management systems being well organised and storage areas are clean and tidy; staff recruitment records and staff s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s e s were wel l kept.”