Five staff suspended over claim dementia sufferer, 84, tied up

FIVE members of staff have been suspended from a care home over allegations of abuse of an elderly female resident, it was confirmed yesterday.

• Allegations: The Four Seasons Ballieston Care Home

The staff at the Four Seasons Baillieston Care Home in Glasgow allegedly tied the 84-year-old woman - who suffers from severe dementia and is prone to wandering - to her bed at night leaving her with bruises across her chest.

The woman's daughter, describing their anguish at the treatment of the former home help, said: "She has done nothing wrong and needs her dignity to be preserved.

"She deserves care, not to be tied up like an animal."

Last night, Lindsay Scott of Age Scotland and the Care Commission, praised the initiative of the "whistleblower" at the home who reported the alleged incident.

Relatives claimed they reported the bruising to staff weeks ago but it was only when a junior member of staff reported the alleged incident to the regular care manager - who had been on holiday - that they were telephoned and told their mother may have been tied to her bed.

Concerns have also been raised about the treatment of other residents at the home.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "We can confirm that we have been asked to investigate allegations of alleged abuse at a care home in Baillieston Glasgow.

"Enquiries are at a very early stage.

"At the moment, it looks as if this is a case for the Care Commissioner rather than Strathclyde Police, however, this may change."

A spokeswoman for Four Seasons Healthcare, one the UK's largest care home providers with 400 homes and 21,000 staff said: "Five members of staff have been suspended from Baillieston Care Home following concerns raised by another staff member.

"All families and relevant authorities have been notified.

"We are very concerned at any suggestion of failure of duty of care and the home is fully co-operating with the investigation. The home now has a new manager."

A spokesman for the Care Commission said: "Since the allegations were made, we have visited this service and are satisfied it is taking appropriate action to protect the wellbeing of residents.

"The Care Commission will await the outcome of the police investigation before considering whether further action is required."

The spokesman added: "The Care Commission treats allegations of abuse at care services very seriously, and members of staff working in the care sector must continue to feel they can whistleblow at the earliest opportunity so steps can be taken to stop unacceptable practice.

Mr Scott said: "The positives in this alleged case is someone reported it.Someone on the staff had the gumption to go across other members of staff and this is to be commended.

He added that his organisation, along with the Care Commission, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and Scottish Care, the umbrella body of independent care homes, had produced human rights training packs highlighting residents' rights which are being rolled out across care homes in Scotland.

Last year, it emerged elderly people in Scotland were suffering record levels of abuse with 275 abuse and neglect complaints against care homes reported in 2009, compared with only 179 in 2004-5. Approximately 60 per cent of complaints were fully or partially upheld.

Margaret Curran, the MSP for Glasgow Baillieston, last night said that she intended to raise the allegations in the Scottish Parliament "as a matter of urgency".