Glenrothes care home where 19 residents died criticised over infection control

The damning criticism of infection control procedures at Lomond Court Nursing Home, in Woodside, Glenrothes, came after three unannounced visits in five days in January.

The Care Inspectorate action came after it issued a serious concern letter to the owners, HC One, on January 12.

Inspectors said: “We concluded that people's welfare and safety was compromised by risks which could be avoided, and that immediate action was required.”

It said the home environment was unsatisfactory, and levels of cleanliness poor - and required immediate attention to help minimise the potential spread of infection.

The report said the management of clinical waste was not satisfactory which caused risks to staff, residents, and visitors.

It noted that clinical waste storage bins used were not locked, and expressed “significant concerns” about how laundry was managed in the home.

Clean laundry was on the floor, and foodstuff and milk were not covered or dated, and stored in a fridge that was not clean or switched on.

The inspectors stated: “We determined that there was no shared sense of responsibility, or clarity, amongst staff about their roles in ensuring the environment and the equipment was clean and free from infection.

“All of these issues increased the risks of infection to everyone in the home.”

They added: “People experiencing care were not appropriately protected because there was not adequate cleaning of the care home.”

A follow-up inspection recorded “significant improvements” had been made.

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The home and equipment used were much cleaner, and a number of areas - including sluices, bathrooms, toilets, laundry and storage areas - had been deep cleaned and, in some instances, redecorated.

The report noted: “The improvements made will help to ensure that residents living in the home are safer because effective infection prevention and control measures help reduce the risk of cross contamination. “

HC One acknowledged its standards were not high enough, but that it had taken immediate steps to rectify matters.

It said it was confident inspectors would note further improvements at their next visit.

A spokesman said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents is our number one priority, and we take all feedback from the Care Inspectorate very seriously.

“We were disappointed by its findings, and we acknowledge we had not achieved the high standards our residents rightfully expert and deserve.

“We took action to rectify the issues identified immediately, and we have received positive resorts on our progress since.”

HC One said the home had been provided with extra support, and care plans for each resident reviewed and updated as appropriate.

It added: “We are confident that the home has high standards of infection control which allow our colleagues to deliver the safest and highest quality care.”

Lomond Court Nursing Home provides 24-hour nursing care and support to 40 older people with mental frailty. Accommodation is provided on two floors and each floor can accommodate 20 people in single occupancy rooms with en-suite facilities.

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