Kentish Express Ashford & District
Report exposes appalling standards at care centre
Health inspectors have condemned the appalling standards at a brain injury centre after patients were exposed to violent attacks including a sexual assault.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) officials visited The Hothfield Manor Acquired Brain Injury Centre in December last year and found that the management had failed to report incidents to the CQC and the local authority.
They also found “stinky” toilets and bathrooms, soiled laundry being mixed with clean laundry, and patients left soaked in urine for an hour due to staff shortages.
In their report published on Monday, February 22, inspectors said the centre in Bethersden Road, Hothfield, is inadequate in every category and failed to meet the needs of its 31 patients who are recovering from acquired brain injuries.
The report states: “People’s safety could not be assured and people were at risk of harm from others.
“People living in the Manor House had experienced a number of physical assaults (including sexual assault) and verbal abuse.”
Despite this, the acting manager claimed to inspectors there were no patients who displayed challenging behaviour.
But the report noted: “However, we established that this was not the case and saw records which showed that people used violence and threatening behaviour towards other people and staff.”
The report noted that staff morale was at an all time low, with many saying they were “rushed” and “felt overworked” leaving them unable to meet patient’s’ needs.
When asked about the impact of staff shortages, one worker replied: “[It has a] huge impact. People don’t get to do as many activities. Sometimes care isn’t met. Sometimes people are left for an hour in wet incontinence pads.”
The report noted that staff were not trained in how to re-order patient’s medicines, which had resulted in one patient’s medicine running out.
It also noted that patients were not always treated with kindness, dignity and respect, with staff failing to engage in conversation or build a rapport with those staying there.
Inspectors concluded that the service was not well led, and placed the centre into special measures. Managers will now to form a comprehensive plan to turn the situation around within six months, or face the prospect of being closed.
Have you been affected by this story? Share your experiences of the Hothfield Manor Brain Injury Centre. Email: abarlow@thekmgroup.co.uk