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Report highlights serious failings at former Elmgrove Care Home in Inverness


By Neil MacPhail

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Elmgrove Care Home in Ballifeary Road, Inverness, has been closed down by court order.
Elmgrove Care Home in Ballifeary Road, Inverness, has been closed down by court order.

THE shocking details of conditions at an Inverness care home branded as posing a serious risk to the lives of residents and closed down by court order, have now been revealed.

Watchdog body the Care Inspectorate has released the findings of an inspection into the former Elmgrove Care Home in the city’s Ballifeary Road that led to it being shut and the 25 residents rehomed in the autumn.

The service provided by Marchmont Homes Ltd, owned by Eleanor MacKay, was found to be unsatisfactory across the board.

The report stated: “We identified wide ranging, serious failings and concluded that there was a serious risk to the vulnerable older people’s life, health and wellbeing.”

The report found:

  • The service failed to provide the right care and the residents, all women, suffered physical harm and emotional distress.
  • One resident sustained a serious injury while alone in a dark corridor.
  • A person with dementia was injured after leaving the building unnoticed through a faulty fire door on at least two occasions.
  • Fire Scotland identified a serious fire risk at the home but the provider refused to follow advice on this.
  • Accidents and incidents were not reviewed to prevent them happening again.
  • Insufficient staffing had adversely impacted on care, including support with continence needs, hydration, nutrition, and pain management.
  • The provider and manager failed to ensure residents received nutritious meals with claims from staff that they were told to cook meals using spoilt vegetables and not to buy cakes and biscuits as they were “luxury” items.

Inspectors added: “The service had repeatedly failed to notify and involve other health and social work professionals, and withheld important information, about actual and potential harm. We concluded that people’s health and wellbeing needs had been neglected.

“Although the care staff were kind and caring they did not have time to spend with people.

“A member of staff told us that some people were being kept in their rooms until lunchtime and that they had no activities and ‘no life’.”

They also complained about incomplete or inaccurate records along with others that provided conflicting information or were missing.

They added: “The provider and manager had failed to report actual and potential harm to relevant authorities who could have intervened to give advice and support to protect people. The provider demonstrated a lack of understanding and concern when we discussed the serious risks people were exposed to.

“We experienced resistance and obstruction at times and the same was also experienced by partner agencies.”

The Health and Social Care Partnership suspended admissions to the home last October and a large-scale investigation was launched.

The Care Inspectorate successfully applied to Inverness Sheriff Court for cancellation of the care service’s registration.

Owner Mrs MacKay could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but when closure moves were triggered last October she said the initial statement from the Care Inspectorate and NHS Highland would sound alarming to the public, but stressed there was no question of staff doing anything to harm residents.

She added: “We have had such love and gratitude from the majority of the families, although you always get some who complain.”

Related article: Court grants request to close down Elmgrove House Care Home


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