Inspectors have found “significant improvements” at a Pitlochry care home months after it was given a scathing report.
Balhousie Pitlochry Care Home, in Perthshire, came under fire in December after a series of issues were discovered – including having inadequate bedding and “severely underweight” residents.
However, a follow up inspection – which took place between April 27 and 29 – found the situation to be improving.
As a result, the Care Inspectorate no longer plans on going ahead with proposals to remove the home’s registration.
Key areas of improvement at Balhousie Pitlochry
Key findings of the inspection at Balhousie Pitlochry include:
- The service has “worked hard” to comply with the improvement notice
- A significant number of new staff members have been employed
- There is “effective oversight” of residents’ care needs
- A range of activities are available
- Staff and leadership are motivated to keep improving the service.
However, the report stated that more work needs to be done to rebuild the trust and improve communication towards the residents’ families.
No plans to cancel registration of Balhousie Pitlochry
A letter sent from the watchdog said: “On December 21 2022 you were served with an improvement notice in relation to Balhousie Pitlochry Care Home.
“The improvement notice stated that unless there was a significant improvement in
provision of the service, Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland intended to make a proposal to cancel your registration.
“As there has been a significant improvement in the service, the Care Inspectorate has
decided not to proceed to make a proposal to cancel the registration of the service.”
Inspection finds ‘stable and consistent staff team’
The report added that residents found meal times had improved, as had leadership.
The inspection found that Balhousie Pitlochry is also no longer reliant on agency staff and now has a “stable and consistent staff team”.
The service also has extra domestic staff to “maintain a clean and safe environment”.
Balhousie Care Group welcomed the Care Inspectorate’s report and its recognition of efforts being made to address previous issues.
A spokesperson said: “Under new ownership, BCG strives to reverse the challenges of the staffing crisis.
“As stated by the original reports, this unquestionably underpins the extreme pressures faced by the care sector nationwide, and far more so for us in our more rural homes.
“We have made wide-ranging improvements in every area, with a significant number of new staff, all undergoing full induction and care training.
Efforts made to address staffing crisis
“For us, there was never any question of registration being cancelled.
“Every member of staff works hard to overcome the issues our sector faces.
“On a daily basis, and in collaboration with the Care Inspectorate and Health and Social Care Partnership, the team are dedicated to building a sustainable and safe, quality care environment.
“We recognise that only continued work to build upon the achievements to-date will restore the confidence of our residents’ families and we remain totally committed to realising that confidence and, as ever, to the health and wellbeing of our residents, and the full support of our Pitlochry colleagues.”
