Bags of urine found on floor during inspection of Telford care home
There were no systems in place to mitigate risks to the health, safety and well-being at a care home in Telford, government inspectors found.
The Priory Nursing and Residential Home, based in Wellington, has been graded inadequate in all areas after a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection and will now be considered for special measures.
An in-depth inspection was carried out on August 16, August 21 and August 29 after concerned "whistleblowers" made a series of complaints.
According to the CQC, one particular incident, which had a serious impact on a person, is currently being looked at by the police.
The Priory provides accommodation and personal care to older people. At the time of inspection there were around 37 residents living at the nursing home. The weekly fees at the home ranges from £681 upwards.
Records show that one resident had nine unwitnessed falls in the past three months. Inspectors had observed the person wandering in the corridor unsupervised and they were very unsteady on their feet. There was a sensor mat on the person's bedroom chair but this was not working.
In addition, the elderly were not protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection. The investigation revealed stained bedding left on beds and catheter bags full of urine found on the floor.
The report added: "People's dignity was not always respected. Some people who had been assisted into their nightclothes during early afternoon had not been provided with dressing gowns and were wandering around the home.
"We observed one person sat in a chair in the lounge with their trousers undone for a period of two hours."
Residents also said they could not be confident that their wishes during their final days and following death would be followed by staff.
CQC inspectors said there were no effective procedures in place to ensure staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support the people who used the service.
One staff member said they only had a one-day induction and two shadow shifts since starting work.
Sue Hindes, manager at Telford Priory, was bought in two months ago in an attempt to tackle poor management issues.
She said: "I've been bought in to manage the home and to turn it around from inadequate, so that the residents are seen as being safe.
"There was also a lot of issues around management, which has now totally changed at the home. We're doing a lot more training with the staff.
"Our inspection was bought forward after whistle blowers alerted the CQC.
"We're working hard to turn the home around, there's been a vast improvement so far.
"CQC are keeping an eye on us, they haven't been in for weeks so they obviously feel like things are OK.
"We are having another meeting with the CQG at the end of November."
Telford Priory was graded good at an inspection back in mid March.
