An Ayrshire care home has been criticised for its hygiene standards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fairknowe House, in Maybole’s Cargill Road, was graded in the second-lowest category of the Care Inspectorate’s six-point scale and labelled “weak” in two key areas.
As a result, the care home has been told to clean up its act in the wake of a recent unannounced inspection.
In its report, Care Inspectorate officers found “stained mattresses and cushions,” while disposal of clinical waste was “a concern” because of a lack of available bins in corridor areas; and PPE (personal protection equipment) in residents’ bedrooms and bathrooms was “not stored correctly” and deemed “at risk of contamination.”
The watchdog also found infection control practices “weak” and topical medication administration records (TMARs) “had not been completed appropriately” while the recording of fluid intake “should be improved.”
As a result, inspectors have made a number of recommendations.
The recommendations include the home’s safe infection control practices are “followed at all times” as well as ensuring there are clear and enhanced cleaning schedules in place for all areas of the home; PPE is available and stored correctly and a sufficient number of clinical waste bins are appropriately located.
The management and processing of laundry must also be processed “in line with current guidance,” “appropriate cleaning materials” are being used and all equipment used for residents is “clean and well maintained.”
The provider should also submit an “action plan, with timescales”, regarding the removal of all shared bedrooms.
It had been noted that the home experienced “significant staffing difficulties.”
However, a new management team “had recruited staff” and there was now “enough staff to ensure responsive care and support,” although it needed to be “monitored.”
The home was rated “adequate” in two areas – relating to people’s health and wellbeing being “supported and safeguarded” during the pandemic and that staffing arrangements were “responsive” to the changing needs of people requiring care.
In its report, the Care Inspectorate said: “This was a focused inspection to evaluate how well people were being supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We evaluated the service based on key areas that are vital to the support and wellbeing of people experiencing care during the pandemic.
“We spoke with people using the service during the inspection. We also contacted relatives by telephone to gather their views of the service. The feedback we received was in the main positive.
“We did, however, receive comments about poor communication.
“Improvements had, however, been noted since the new management team had been appointed.”
Fairknowe House provides a care home service to 40 older people, some of whom may have physical needs and/or dementia.
The service provider is Mead Medical Services Ltd, who own other care homes in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as Tayside.
Ayrshire Live made repeated requests to Fairknowe Care Home for a response but have not yet received one.
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