Notice served on care home amid concerns

NEWBURGH: Fife establishment heavily criticised by watchdog over staffing levels, food and hygiene

Operators of a Fife care home have been told to make urgent improvements amid serious concerns over residents’ welfare.

Abbotsford Care’s Tayside View home in Newburgh was heavily criticised following an inspection by the Care Inspectorate in July.

The watchdog has now served an improvement notice on the Glenrothesbased company after issues were found with staffing levels, food and hygiene.

Inspectors were told residents’ basic needs, including access to toilets, could not always be met on time.

The firm has also been told to ensure it has a sufficient level of trained staff, that residents have support to eat and drink enough and are receiving the right care according to individual care plans.

Abbotsford Care has been given until January 5 to make significant improvements, including ensuring residents’ needs are met in a manner that promotes their dignity and choice.

The company said it had acted immediately on receiving the notice and aimed to fully meet the requirements.

A Care Inspectorate spokesman said: “The improvement notice we have issued clearly lays out the improvements

“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe... care which meets their needs and respects their rights. CARE INSPECTORATE SPOKESMAN

we must see so that the care experienced by people improves quickly.

“We will visit this care home again soon to check on progress and if we are not satisfied that the matters raised are being addressed urgently we will not hesitate to take further action.

“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights.”

A report of the July inspection noted issues with food quality, quantity, storage and presentation.

Inspectors said staff were working hard but were under pressure and some aspects of care and support were missed.

Hygiene concerns were also highlighted, particularly in the kitchen and dining areas, with food cupboards not always clean and fridge temperatures sometimes above safe levels.

A spokesman for Abbotsford Care said: “Abbotsford is working proactively, co-operatively and urgently with the inspectorate to carry out the required improvements.

“We regret that these issues have arisen, and as soon as it became clear that remedial action needed to be taken, senior management acted immediately and will continue to drive to full implementation.

“Abbotsford will not be reluctant to sort out this unexpected and very isolated situation.”

“For 32 years we have worked with the health boards and now the Care Inspectorate dealing with thousands of residents in our various homes, and this is the very first time an improvement notice has been issued.

“We are meeting these obligations as quickly and fully as possible.”