Announcements

TWO care homes treating dementia patients have been ordered to make immediate improvements after inspectors discovered shocking issues.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued formal warnings to New Century Care and Lifestyle (Abbey Care) that they must overhaul standards of care at Beechwood, in Northallerton, and the Archery-Bower suites, at Abbey Care Village in Scorton, near Richmond – or face serious consequences.

The enforcement action by the Government’s health and social care regulator at Beechwood follows an unannounced visit by inspectors last month to check changes had been implemented at the 60-bed home, six months after the CQC identified major concerns.

Inspectors noted numerous concerns over residents on the first floor, including failures to maintain their dignity or give them an opportunity to take part in any meaningful activities.

The report states residents on the first floor may not have received adequate nutrition and drink, that there were numerous cleanliness and hygiene failures and staff were not delivering appropriate care.

Before a meeting with relatives of residents to explain the New Century Care’s action plan, Jenny French, the firm’s operations director, apologised to relatives of residents for any distress or anxiety this may have caused.

She said: “Many changes have already been achieved over the past three weeks which have further improved service delivery.”

CQC inspectors found residents at Archery-Bower were not being fully protected from risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medicines. They found vital medication had been allowed to run out of stock, causing a detrimental effect on people’s health.

They found one person’s medication administration records altered to increase the dose required. However, this alteration had not been signed by the prescriber, and there was no explanation given as to why the change had been made.

A spokesman for Lifestyle (Abbey Care) said it had taken immediate action to rectify the problem and was waiting for CQC inspectors to return to give the green light.

Jo Dent, regional director of CQC, said the warning had sent both firms a clear and public message that they needed to address issues as a matter of urgency.

She said: “We will inspect both care homes again in the near future and, if we find that the provider is not making the required progress, we will not hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there.”