Charity raised concerns over axed care home six months ago

Published on Thursday 2 June 2011 18:22

CHARITY chiefs raised concerns about the crisis-hit Elsie Inglis Nursing Home six months ago, it has emerged.

POOR RECORD: Above, Eagle Lodge, which was marked 'weak' in one category; our stories on May 26 and June 1; Laverock House which was assessed as 'weak' in two categories

A local charity told the council that the axed Abbeyhill facility, along with others in the city, should not be housing people with learning disabilities as it was designed for elderly people.

It comes as an Evening News investigation today reveals that one in ten of the city's care homes have been assessed as "weak" - meaning that concerns must be addressed.

The Elsie Inglis home - run by Edinburgh doctors Nawal and Susheela Bagaria - was evacuated after Lynn Beveridge, a 59-year-old with Down's syndrome, died last month, and police are also investigating the death of a second 87-year-old man who lived at the home.

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It also emerged today that the other homes run by the same firm, Peacock Medicare Ltd, had also been the subject of complaints. Peacock Nursing Home in Garden Place, Livingston, was the subject of two standards complaints this year and two last year, all of which were partially upheld. A fifth complaint, which was upheld, dated back to 2005.

Woodlands Nursing Home in Quentin Rise, Livingston, had a complaint partially upheld in 2008 about communication and delays in the admission of a resident to hospital.

Ian Hood, co-ordinator of the Learning Disability Alliance Scotland, told the Evening News: "We wrote to the council in January highlighting that Elsie Inglis had residents with learning disabilities that we felt was inappropriate.

"We wrote again after Ms Beveridge's death. We are still waiting to hear anything substantive back from them.

"Our figures suggest there are another 68 people with learning disabilities in Edinburgh care homes for older people. We want to know what the council is doing to make sure they are properly looked after."

There are 112 care homes in the Capital, and 13 of these have been criticised and deemed as "weak" or "unsatisfactory" in at least one area in the past year.

These range from homes that have had consistently poor scores under Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland guidelines, to those - such as the Tor Christian home in Corstorphine - which have marked consistently well.

Only one of the local authority's 13 homes appears on the list - the Clermiston House unit - with the other council facilities performing well. Well-known brands such as Bupa and the Salvation Army also feature, with privately run independent homes involved too.

Labour's health spokeswoman in Edinburgh, Cllr Lesley Hinds, said: "It must be awful for families. It is concerning that this information about Elsie Inglis has been with the council since January."

A council spokesman said: "We have been in correspondence with LDAS about people with learning disabilities in care homes. We consulted last year on people's views about the need for specialist services."POOR RESULTS

Belgrave Nursing Home (Dixon Sangster Partnership)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "There are areas of care that the service must improve to ensure that service users receive good care and support."

What the home said: Did not wish to comment.

Cameron Park (independent)

Rating: Quality of environment - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "Improvement is needed in the way the home checks that the environment and equipment is safe."

What the home said: "We've actually just had an inspection last week and it showed quite a turnaround. It has not been published yet, but we were given verbal feedback which takes us to an excellent position."

Camilla House (European Care - Kler)

Rating: Quality of environment - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "The provider needs to continue to make improvements to the environment. Best practice in pressure ulcer prevention must be implemented.

What the home said: Did not wish to comment.

Clermiston House (City of Edinburgh Council)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "The service must address those areas of care planning that were identified and made the subject of requirements at the previous inspection."

What the home said: "The vast majority of our care homes have scored a very good rating for the services they provide and all the recommendations from the December 2010 inspection have been fully implemented to ensure Clermiston meets the high care standards we expect."

Cluny Lodge Nursing Home (independent)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "The service needs to get better at the way it plans care to meet the needs of each individual resident."

What the home said: Directors not available for comment.

Davidson House (Salvation Army)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "Staffing levels still need to be maintained."

What the home said: Did not wish to comment.

Eagle Lodge (Salvation Army)

Rating: Quality of environment - UNSATISFACTORY; quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "The service needs to improve communication between the manager and the staff group."

What the home said: Did not wish to comment.

Erskine Edinburgh (Erskine Hospital)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: Report unavailable.

What the home said: "We are working closely with SCSWIS to improve some areas of care that will ensure we return to the traditional high standards that Erskine prides itself in."

Laverock House (independent)

Rating: Quality of environment - UNSATISFACTORY; quality of care and support - WEAK; quality of management and leadership - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "Practice regarding the protection of adults needs to improve."

What the home said: Did not wish to comment.

Pentland Hill Nursing Home (Bupa)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: Report unavailable.

What the home said: "We had a subsequent inspection at the beginning of May and that has moved the rating up to adequate. Of course, we won't be satisfied until it is at good, like our other ratings."

St Raphael's Care Home (Viewpoint)

Rating: Quality of staffing - WEAK

What the inspectors said: No report available as grading followed a complaint.

What the home said: "This was as the result of a complaint rather than an inspection. We have worked closely with SCSWIS and at future inspections expect things to improve. Our other grades (from inspections] are good."

Tor Christian Nursing Home (independent)

Rating: Quality of care and support - WEAK

What the inspectors said: "The service needs to make sure that all staff respect the individuality of each resident."

What the home said: "Following our preliminary feedback we are optimistic that our scores will go up."