Watchdog upholds complaints over care of dementia sufferer in home

Complaints made by a Dundee man about the treatment his father received while in a Broughty Ferry nursing home have been upheld by Scotland’s care watchdog.

Angus Ferguson, 51, of Eassons Angle, accused Moyness Care Home, which is owned by millionaire Tony Banks’s Balhousie Care Group, of a catalogue of failures during his father John’s stay at the home from April last year until his death in June this year, aged 86.

The Care Commission has upheld or partially upheld seven complaints by Mr Ferguson.

They found John Ferguson, who suffered from dementia and was paying £730 a week to stay at Moyness, was given inadequate personal care meaning he was “dishevelled, his clothing stained, his hair unkempt and he had food on his face”.

The commission also found the home in Grove Road had not done a risk assessment of its fire-escape staircases, had not properly assessed John Ferguson’s behavioural changes during his stay and failed to provide support to his family after his death.

The Moyness home must now draw up an action plan to improve the standard of care it provides and has been issued with four requirements and seven recommendations for changes in practice.

A Care Commission spokesman said: “Poor practice and failure to meet the appropriate standards of care are unacceptable.

“The Care Commission will monitor progress at this service and continue to work with the service provider to ensure that immediate improvements are made.”

The Care Commission’s findings have been welcomed by Mr Ferguson.

He said: “All in all, my family and I are glad the Care Commission’s findings support our concerns and we can only hope that this will help prevent any other vulnerable people from receiving a level of care far below that expected.”

A spokesman for Balhousie Care Group said: “We are shocked that Mr Ferguson has chosen to share such highly personal information with the press and feel it is inappropriate for us to comment publicly on matters relating to an individual resident.

“We are working closely with the Care Commission to reinforce our commitment to the very highest standards of care and address the issues raised.

“We are making excellent progress and have received a number of supportive statements from other residents’ families.

“We have also demonstrated our commitment to Balhousie Moyness Care Home with plans for a £1.5million refurbishment programme that will resolve many of the issues highlighted, which has unfortunately been declined planning permission on several occasions.”

Last month, Dundee City Council’s social work department told staff not to send elderly people there.

The instruction came after discussions were held between officials and Care Commission representatives.

Mr Banks, who appeared in Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire programme last year, runs the Forfar-based care group, which has another 19 homes in Tayside.