UPDATE: Closure-threatened Inverness care home owner speaks of shock at court action
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THE owner of a closure-threatened Inverness care home has described the situation as scary and sad while admitting it came as a shock.
A team from the NHS and Highland Council moved into Elmgrove House Care Home in Ballifeary Road earlier this week to begin the process of moving out residents, all women with an average age of 97 and including three aged over 100.
The Care Inspectorate said an inspection identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by residents and that there was a serious risk to their life, health and wellbeing.
It has submitted an application to the sheriff court seeking cancellation of the care home’s registration, with the case due to be called at Inverness Sheriff Court tomorrow.
Care home owner Eleanor MacKay said: “I have never been in this position before and it is quite scary and has come as a complete and utter shock. We are trying to resolve issues with the Care Inspectorate. It is upsetting for everyone, especially the residents and their families.”
Mrs MacKay said the statement from the Care Inspectorate and NHS would sound alarming to the public, but she stressed there was no question of staff doing anything to harm patients.
She added: “We live with these ladies 24 hours a day and we have fabulous staff and the whole thing is very, very sad.
“We have had such love and gratitude from the majority of the families, although you always get some who complain.”
Mrs MacKay said the home was paid £84 per resident by NHS Highland to provide 24-hour care, while a nearby B&B charged guests £120 per night.
She said it was becoming increasingly difficult to get staff for the home which has four permanent staff and two agency staff who get paid twice the hourly rate of their permanent colleagues.
She added: “When I started 12 years ago, the average age of a resident coming in was 74, but now it is 92 and there are more with mobility difficulties. In the past three to six months I have taken on about a dozen young girls, but they don’t stay as the job is just too hard.”
NHS Highland, which has responsibility for adult care, said it was taking urgent action to safeguard residents.
See tomorrow's Courier for more.
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- Inverness care home must make "urgent improvements", says inspectorate
