By Lynne Stewart

CARE HOMES are putting residents’ lives at risk by failing to complete crucial fire safety training, the Royal College of Nursing Scotland claimed yesterday.

Despite a statutory requirement for care homes to send all their staff on fire, health and safety and manual handling courses each year, a third of care home nurses had not attended fire training, while over half had not been trained in health and safety.

The survey of care home nurses conducted by RCN Scotland has shown that one in 10 staff nurses and nearly one in five enrolled nurses had received no training in the past 12 months.

The fire safety courses take around half a day to complete, but care homes are overlooking the compulsory training because of low care home fees.

The survey was sent to all 1100 RCN members working in care homes and received 500 replies from all over Scotland.

The worrying figures show that some care home owners are ignoring safety advice in the aftermath of the tragic blaze at Rosepark Care Home in Uddingston where 14 elderly residents died in January last year.

James Kennedy, director of RCN Scotland, said, “Low care home fees appear to be having a worrying impact on staff training with many not even going on the courses which they are required by law to complete.

“Nurses want to give the best care possible and they know that means constantly updating their skills. Unfortunately they are not being given the chance to do so and that must inevitably have an impact on the care they provide.

“Statutory training obligations must be fulfilled.

“Care home residents are living longer and have complex care needs, so it is important that all nurses are trained to the highest standard.

“If they don’t develop their skills they cannot meet the needs of residents.So it is particularly disappointing to see that less than a third of nurses had attended any sort of professional development training.

“Although not required by law, courses like infection control and prevention of abuse do cover skills which are central to the welfare of care home residents.

“Increasing training opportunities will not only result in improved standards of care but also greater staff loyalty and raised staff morale.”

Jane McCready, RCN Scottish board chairwoman, added, “Care home owners must ensure that all staff attend statutory training sessions including fire safety.

“Not only that but they must ensure that all nurses have access to a broad range of training opportunities focused on improving quality of care for residents.

“That is why all nurses should have a minimum of three days fully-funded continuing professional development per year over and above mandatory training requirements.”