A DAMNING review into the standard of care provided at a nursing home in Stourport-on-Severn has been published by the Care Quality Commission.
Lickhill Manor Nursing Home in Lower Lickhill Road can provide accommodation with nursing and personal care for up to 40 older people or people who have a physical disability.
The commission reviewed all the information it held about the provider, carried out a visit on December 9, 2010, observed how people were being cared for, talked to staff and people who used its services, checked the provider’s records and looked at records.
It found that the home needed to make improvements to meet 13 essential standards and identified “major concerns” with cleanliness and infection control.
The report found that “standards of hygiene were not of a satisfactory standard and appropriate infection control measures were not being carried out”.
According to the report: “People who use the service could be exposed to potential infection because of poor standard of cleanliness, inappropriate decontamination of equipment and poor infection control procedures.”
In the report, “moderate concerns” were identified in terms of respecting and involving people who used services, the care and welfare of people who used services, meeting nutritional needs and safeguarding people who used services from abuse.
“Moderate concerns” were also identified in relation to management of medicines, safety and suitability of premises, requirements relating to workers, staffing, assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision, notification of other incidents and the nursing home’s financial position.
Minor concerns were also identified in terms of safety, availability and suitability of equipment. However, the report did note that people “were generally satisfied with the care they were receiving”.
Manager Shawn Goddard, who was brought in to turn the home around in January, explained that provider Gentle Care Services had installed a new management team.
He said that they had addressed all the points identified in the report and drawn up an action plan.
He said: “The home has done a complete U-turn from what it was and that is down to the new management team and the support of the staff.”
Mr Goddard said that an unannounced formal commission inspection was expected later in the year.
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