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November 9, 2010

Vulnerable Elderly Patients Moved from a Nursing Home Over Care Concerns (UK)

By Nadia Stone 

VULNERABLE elderly residents are being moved from a nursing home over concerns about a poor standard of care.
An unannounced inspection by watchdog Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised a series of concerns about care at Uplands Nursing Home in Maisemore.
In response, Gloucestershire County Council has announced it is moving all 23 council-funded residents to alternative homes, saying they cannot otherwise "ensure residents safety".
There are a further 12 residents at the home who are either self-funded and have their care paid for byWorcestershire County Council.
A spokesman for the CQC said the inspection on Wednesday had raised concerns about medication and cleanliness. He did not rule out the possibility that the CQC could close the home, saying: "Our main concern is always the wellbeing of the people who live there.
"Two members of staff inspected the home on Wednesday. They arrived unannounced. Our concerns are over care planning, medication, and the environment, including poor cleaning of the home and staff leaving equipment in corridors.
"We're currently considering what we're going to do as a result and are aware of the actions being taken by the council, which we support.
"We'll consider the actions being taken by people and will take the next step in the next few days."
Gloucestershire County Council confirmed it had learned of two serious safeguarding concerns on October 22, and yesterday sent the home a letter to say it was stopping placements.
Helen Godfrey, lead for adult safeguarding at the county council, said: "The county council, NHS Gloucestershire, CQC and the Gloucestershire Care Providers Association have been supporting Uplands Care Home for some time to bring about improvements.
"However, it has now become clear that standards of care cannot be raised quickly enough to ensure residents safety. We have, therefore, decided to begin moving all county council-funded residents out of Uplands. We will work with their families and carers to plan safe, sensitive and controlled moves, and support those self-funded residents who choose to move.
"The safety and health and wellbeing of residents at Uplands is our primary concern and we are continuing to closely monitor and support them to ensure that they receive a high level of care appropriate to their needs."
Marjorie Hook, 84, from Huntley, has been visiting her sister Iris Tombs, 85, at the home for around five years.
Iris, who struggles physically after a stroke, is one of the residents who will be moved by the county council.
She said: "The standard of care seems to go up and down. I'd say 95 per cent of the residents have Alzheimer's or dementia so can't speak up. The biggest problem is they don't pay their staff enough for what they do."
She said families of relatives were being interviewed about the care at the home, currently advertising for staff.
Another Maisemore resident Leslie James, 81, used to visit his brother Frank at the home before Frank died a few years ago.
He said: "It's a serious matter. Frank seemed okay when he was there. He was happy enough. But he wasn't mentally there."
Another resident in Maisemore, who asked not to be named, said: "They struggle for staff. I didn't realise the standard was that bad."
Chris Jackson, from Gloucestershire Police, said: "Gloucestershire Constabulary works in partnership to safeguard vulnerable adults in the county and is aware of the county council's recent decision to move all council-funded residents from the Uplands Care Home at Maisemore.
"We are currently making enquiries to determine whether there is anything that is relevant from a police perspective. If there is, an investigation will begin. It is therefore too early to give any further details."
A CQC report of Uplands, dated May 2010, raised concerns about "unsafe practice" of unmonitored medication and faeces smeared on a window.
The Citizen yesterday approached the home but managers declined to comment.



SOURCE:     ThisIsGloucestershire, UK


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