Inspections reveal poor standards of care at homes for the elderly

Published on Saturday 25 June 2011 11:05

ONE in ten of Scotland's homes for the elderly are providing either "weak" or "unsatisfactory" care for residents, according to worrying new figures published today.

The statistics, obtained by Labour from a freedom of information request, reveal that of 880 homes across Scotland, 67 were considered to provide a weak service, while a further 11 were ranked as unsatisfactory - the worst level of service.

The findings come after the deaths of two elderly former residents at Edinburgh's Elsie Inglis care home, which prompted a police investigation and the closure of the facility.

The inspection findings published today reveal that the most common area of failure for those care homes criticised is "quality of care and support".

At the other end of the scale, only 44 out of 880 homes were described as "excellent", the highest ranking, with the majority ranked either "good" or "very good".

Among the lowest-rated homes was Tranent Care Home, ranked "weak" in all four areas examined: quality of care, environment, staffing and leadership. The home, owned by troubled firm Southern Cross, has faced condemnation in recent years over low staffing levels and poor food standards. In 2007, a 74-year-old resident at the home, weighing six stone, died after suffering dehydration and poor nutrition.

Another home ranked "weak" in all four areas was the Glebe House home in Ayrshire. In total, 102 homes in Scotland were rated either "weak" or "unsatisfactory" in at least one category.

The continuing low standards prompted calls for immediate action from ministers last night.

Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie MSP said: "These deeply worrying figures should be an urgent wake-up call to the SNP government."