Healthcare standards body's report strongly critical of Plymouth care home
A Plymouth residential home has been strongly criticised for the standards of its patient care and faces enforcement action after coming under the scrutiny of the health industry's regulatory body.
A report into the Southview Residential Care Home in Woodside, Lipson in Plymouth has revealed it has fallen short in all but two of the 11 standards assessed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at an inspection carried out over four separate dates in January and February.
The CQC says that the unannounced inspections were carried out "in response to concerns that one or more of the essential standards of quality and safety were not being met."
The report into the home which is run by registered provider, Ashley Residential Care Limited, is critical of a number of areas and has requested action on each of these.
The eight standards assessed by the CQC as requiring action were: the general care and welfare of residents; the meeting of residents' nutritional needs; the standards of safeguarding residents from potential abuse; cleanliness and infection control; the safety and suitability of the premises; the skills, experience and qualification requirements relating to care workers; the assessment and monitoring of the quality of service provision; and the upkeep of residents' records.
In one area - the management of medicines - the report has judged the standards as requiring "enforcement action". The report states:
"People were not protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider did not have appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines safely.
"We have judged that this has a major impact on people who use the service and have taken enforcement action against this provider."
The report highlights inspection findings regarding cleanliness and infection control in bedrooms -
"During the tour of the premises we found disposable razors, in a used state, left in a bathroom with no name attached. We also found in one person's room toothbrushes that were dirty. These items pose a risk of infection."
- and in the kitchen:
"Cookery trays and dishes were found to be stored on the floor of the kitchen and were in poor condition which meant they would be hard to keep clean. The home and kitchen held rodent control traps which were found near these cookery trays on the floor. This was not good practice and may place people eating from those trays at risk."
It also raises a number of concerns, from circumstances witnessed by inspectors, regarding the general standards of care:
"While speaking to one person we had to clean their glasses as they were so dirty this person was unable to see clearly. We also needed to assist this person with their clothing. This person was found to be sat on a towel with their skirt raised around their waist. This did not promote this person's dignity."
Southview was deemed as having met the required standards in two areas inspected - staffing numbers and staff support.
The care home has until 4 June to provide the CQC with a report setting out the action it will take to meet the standards. The CQC will check the action is taken.
The CQC's report concludes:
"We have taken enforcement action against Southview Residential Care Home to protect the health, safety and welfare of people using this service.
"Where providers are not meeting essential standards, we have a range of enforcement powers we can use to protect the health, safety and welfare of people who use this service (and others, where appropriate).
"When we propose to take enforcement action, our decision is open to challenge by the provider through a variety of internal and external appeal processes. We will publish a further report on any action we take."
The full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission's website.
