Residents ‘not safe’

The care and treatment delivered at Eastgate Manor Care Home was found to be so poor the facility failed in every category of a recent Care Quality Commission inspection.

Rated as “inadequate”, the facility, which is provided by Bramble Lodge Care Home Limited, is now in special measures and will be inspected again within six months.

The inspection took place over five days in November, just a month after the facility’s new manager was appointed. The facility currently houses 35 people.

Inspectors found insufficient staff employed in key areas, serious shortfalls in the maintenance of records and inadequate management of medication.

The report states: “At our inspection we found serious failings in respect of the care and treatment that people received and concluded that people were not safe.”

Though residents stated that they felt safe living at Eastgate Manor, inspectors concluded that their findings showed they were not.

Altercations and displays of inappropriate behaviour between residents had not been appropriately documented.

The report continues: “People had sustained minor injuries such as skin tears during the delivery of personal care and some had presented with unexplained bruising.

“There was no evidence that investigations had taken place to attempt to establish the reasons for these injuries.”

Risks to dementia sufferers were identified, including the presence of a large bag in an open office accessible to people on the unit, full of unprotected, used razor blades and discarded medication.

Staff had received training in nutrition, hydration and dignity, but the inspection found they did not always apply this knowledge.

Some employees were described as caring, leading residents by the hand, reassuring them when they became distressed and supporting them gently.

However, the report also states: “Staff talked about people living at the home without thought for their privacy and dignity.”

The report also describes the choice of food at the care home as “limited”.

A member of staff is quoted in the report as saying: “They [residents] don’t get much for supper.

“Sandwiches made for tea are given again for supper; sometimes we go down and get cereal for people.”

Serious failings in the facility’s maintenance of records and concerns over the timeliness of medical intervention were also noted.

Communication between staff and with external healthcare workers was poor, with some information not shared and issues not always followed up.

Some residents were not administered required medication due to an inadequate medicine management system.

The manager has increased staffing levels since her appointment in October 2015 and told inspectors she was in the process of applying to become the registered manager of the service.

Staff reported that, previously there had been a lack of managerial direction, due to a succession of different managers taking the role for a brief spell.

Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North, Debbie Westhead, said: “We have made it clear to the provider that the care we found at Eastgate Manor was falling a long way short of what we expect.

“We have made it clear where action must be taken to address the concerns identified.

“We have been working with Northumberland County Council to ensure that people living at the home are not at undue risk.

“We will continue to monitor this care home.

“We have placed this service in special measures and we are considering taking enforcement action and will report on this action when it is completed.”

A spokesman for the home said: “We acknowledge the report and its findings.

“We are working closely with the Care Quality Commission – the new manager is overseeing the robust action plans that are already in place – and our main priority is to address the issues that have been raised and ensure the service meets the needs of our residents.”