Closure threat for care home

Care home giant Southern Cross, which owns Redmill Nursing Home in Lady Court, East Whitburn, have been ordered to improve or have its registration withdrawn by the Care Commission.

The move follows two inspections this year in January and July when "serious concerns" were raised over the level of care for residents.

The care watchdog has now issued an Improvement Notice to the company to clean up its act after the issues it found in the first inspection were not dealt with.

Two complaints this year by relatives of people living in Redmill have been upheld in relation to personal care and staff not administering wound dressings and prescription drugs correctly. A third complaint was also partially upheld in April 2008.

Residents in the home, which houses 70 people, can pay up to 500 a week to stay there.

The report, which was published by the Care Commission yesterday from July's inspection, found that the quality of care, support, environment and staffing was "unsatisfactory", the lowest of six grades on the commission's scale. The quality of management and leadership was graded as "weak", the second lowest grade.

In its conclusions, the Care Commission said: "The provider must take steps to ensure the safety and security of residents and their belongings.

"The findings from this inspection gave us concerns that residents' safety and wellbeing were not being met."

The watchdog says unless "significant" improvements are made at Redmill, Southern Cross could lose its registration to operate the home.

New admissions into the home have also been banned until all the improvements are made, but a deadline for this has been set at the end of January 2011, which could put pressure on other homes in West Lothian if more elderly people need placed.

A spokesman for the Care Commission said: "The Care Commission has had serious concerns about the standard of care being provided to people living at Redmill Nursing Home for some time. Following our most recent inspection, we have taken enforcement action against its service provider, Southern Cross Home Properties Limited.

"We have issued an Improvement Notice which requires that the service carries out important improvements."

Maxine Beveridge, Southern Cross Healthcare area manager, said the company had identified a "number of key areas" which require improvement and were working with the Care Commission to bring these into line.

She added: "Our residents are our number one priority.

"We have carried out a comprehensive audit of process at the home and measures have already been put in place to deal with the issues raised."