Distressed resident ‘left alone calling throughout the day’ at Dartford …

Shocking failings have been exposed at a care home in Dartford[1] which has been put in special measures by the Care Quality Commission[2]. It rated the care home, which has 112 residents but can accommodate 156, "inadequate" following an eye-opening report from inspectors.

The huge Priory Mews Care Home in Watling Street gives nursing care including to people with dementia, along with residential care. A catalogue of breaches of health and social care legislation was found during the two inspections in February at the home, owned by RCB Healthcare Group.

It will be kept under review, has an action plan to sort out the failings and will be re-inspected in six months. A handover sheet between staff stated one resident was "continent" when they were "incontinent" while another stated a resident was on a "normal diet" when in fact they were on a diabetic diet.

One resident had fallen three times in three weeks, and had bruising and skin tears when inspectors visited, yet there was no mention of this in their risk assessment. Inspectors had gone into the home to investigate "risks" after being alerted about concerns around "people's safety, dignity and respect; staffing and management and leadership".

Inspectors identified "at least" three incidents of physical assault between residents had not been documented. And they had to intervene during their visit to help one resident who had an alarmed sensor mat by their bed because of "very high risk of falls" and had got out of bed.

The alarm sounded for more than 10 minutes with no staff coming, so inspectors "guided them back to bed as they were unsteady". Another resident, who was in bed and distressed, was "left alone, calling out throughout the day" to be helped to get out of bed. And one relative said new clothes bought for their loved one were taken from their wardrobe before they had even worn them, and a manager said a staff member must have taken them, but this was not reported to police, said inspectors.

Inspectors saw residents eating their food while lying down in bed which is a choking risk and staff were seen "walking away" from residents who became agitated, distressed or frustrated. There was no guidance in place on how to care for someone with a catheter, including how often to change the bag, clean the site or spot signs of infection.

Inspectors said residents' safety was compromised and healthcare advice was not always followed, putting their health at risk of "deterioration". Many residents were cared for in bed with no evident reason and staff did not attend quickly enough when residents were "calling out".

However, they said they saw "some staff members using good skills with a person who was demonstrating distressed behaviour". Some bathrooms were "cluttered and unclean" and some of the living areas were not "safe or pleasant to live in", and there were "broken doors, chipped wood and paint", said the report, which shows the home was rated inadequate in all five areas used to measure a care home service.

The report also had this to say about people not being treated with dignity, compassion and kindness: "People were not always treated with dignity and respect. People were in bed with their bedroom doors open, with no covers over them, exposing them to anyone walking past.

"Staff were still completing the morning personal care round until lunchtime, so some people were in this position for some time. Some people looked unkempt, with hair unbrushed and unshaven. A relative told us that sometimes when they visited their loved one they would be in the same clothes for two to three days."

This comment from a relative was one of many in the report: "They told us their loved one was not always treated with kindness. For example, if staff moved their loved one to be more comfortable, staff did not always speak with them before, or whilst moving them."

"The relative told us, 'They don't speak to him as they move him up the bed, I have to do that. He is a person. It's sad, it's thoughtlessness, not considering him as a person.' Another relative said: 'They aren't chatty or caring, they do what they have to do, turn around and walk out'."

However, inspectors said they did see "some nice interactions" between residents and staff. You can read the full report here[4]. KentLive[5] approached RCB Healthcare Ltd for a comment.

Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE.[6]

References

  1. ^ Dartford (www.kentlive.news)
  2. ^ Care Quality Commission (www.kentlive.news)
  3. ^ 13 care homes in Kent were rated 'inadequate' by inspectors (www.kentlive.news)
  4. ^ the full report here (www.cqc.org.uk)
  5. ^ KentLive (www.kentlive.news)
  6. ^ HERE. (data.reachplc.com)

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