Major NHS Highland investigation underway after damning Care Inspectorate report finds Southside Care Home has been putting "life, health and well-being" of residents at significant risk
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
An Inverness nursing home is under investigation after a damning report found that residents were being put at “significant risk” by the way it was operated.
Southside Care Home in Crown was heavily criticised by the Care Inspectorate, which described residents suffering “physical harm and emotional distress”.
The unannounced inspection found evidence that quality of care had “declined” and concluded there was “significant risk to people’s life, health and wellbeing”.
Detailed within the findings was an incident where a resident fractured their wrist while unsupervised. Dementia sufferers had left the premises unnoticed on more than one occasion.
Records showed that one person had lost significant weight, with inspectors told their food and fluid intake had not been monitored.
NHS Highland is now involved in a “large scale investigation” under adult protection legislation. An emergency condition has been placed on the privately-run nursing home, preventing new admissions.
Related story: Inverness care home has been blasted by inspectors for 'weak' response to Covid-19
An NHS Highland spokesman said: “NHS Highland is in contact with residents and relatives and will keep them informed of its progress. NHS Highland has ensured that all residents are reviewed and the provider has enhanced their staffing complement.
“In partnership with the Highland Council, NHS Highland is working closely with the registered operators of Southside nursing home to support their improvement actions and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.”
Under an improvement notice issued, the care home must ensure it is fully meeting people’s health, safety and wellbeing needs by September 1. Staff at the home were found to be “caring and compassionate” despite inadequate numbers on each shift.
A spokesman for Southside Care Home said they were “working with the Care Inspectorate, the NHS and our own staff” to address issues raised, adding: “We are deeply disappointed in our recent Care Inspectorate report, which does not reflect the high standards of service we work hard to provide to all our residents.”
