A Dundee care home has been slammed by inspectors for failing to respect people’s dignity – with residents allowed to walk around in food-stained clothing.
Pitkerro Care Centre has been branded “weak” – the second-lowest rating – across five areas in a report by the Care Inspectorate.
The 70-bed home, run by Hudson Healthcare, was criticised for its wellbeing, leadership, staff, setting and care and support planning.
Inspectors paid two visits to the centre – which provides both residential and nursing care for older people – in July.
People’s dignity not respected
The watchdog found that “people’s dignity was not respected”, with a “lack of attention to people’s appearance” that saw one resident walk around in a food-stained jumper for 15 minutes before staff assisted them to change their top.
Others wore food-stained shoes, while concerns were raised that wheelchairs and equipment to protect people were not clean.
The report said a carer used a tablecloth they had just removed from a table to wipe a resident’s mouth after their meal.
It was also found that residents’ choices were not respected, with staff putting bibs on them at mealtimes before asking if they wanted one.
In some cases, people’s bedroom doors were locked when they were not in their rooms, preventing independent access.
Meanwhile two people had their chairs tilted back without them being asked or informed beforehand.
The Care Inspectorate says this showed that people were not involved in their day-to-day support.
Residents at risk of infection
Although people living in the home and their relatives were “mostly happy with the care provided”, the watchdog says the levels of cleanliness were “not adequate” and attention is required to help “minimise the potential spread of infection”.
The inspectors found a grubby toilet seat and two mattresses, “very rusty” bathroom equipment that needed replaced, and several waste bins without liners.
In one dining room the sink was “very dirty” and walls were “unclean and heavily stained”.
Other issues included:
- Clean personal protective equipment (PPE) being stored on the floor in an en suite, meaning there was “an increased risk of contamination”.
- Out of date food was found in one cupboard, “compromising people’s health and safety”.
- Daily tasks being prioritised over supporting people’s emotional and social support needs.
- “Significant weaknesses” in leadership.
However, inspectors noted a newly appointed manager had “quickly identified areas to improve and had started to action these”.
Improvements to be made
The home has been told to implement a series of improvements over the course of September and October.
A spokesperson from Pitkerro Care Centre said: “The wellbeing and safety of our residents and staff are of upmost importance to us.
“New management introduced at the home shortly before the inspection had already identified the areas for improvement stated in the report.
“The team had begun rapidly actioning improvements before its publication. We continue to act swiftly to ensure all processes have been put in place to address the matters raised in the report.
“We look forward to showing the progress we are making at our next inspection.”
It comes after a carer at the home was handed a warning by a regulator for locking dementia patients in their rooms.
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