MSP’s blast over North Lanarkshire care home report

A report into North Lanarkshire care homes reveals a number of serious shortcomings, a Labour MSP has claimed.

Central Scotland MSP Siobhan McMahon has called for urgent action following the publication of a report based on figures produced by the independent care inspectorate, Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS).

The figures revealed that eight privately owned North Lanarkshire care homes were assessed as unsatisfactory or weak in at least one area.

Four of the eight homes were assessed as weak in the Quality of Care and Support category.

They were Arran House Care Home, Airdrie; Ravens Court Care Centre, Wishaw; Rawyards House Care Home, Airdrie; and Darroch Nursing Home, Cumbernauld.

The publication of the figures coincided with the news that SCSWIS’s budget is to be cut by 25% by 2015.

Ms McMahon said: “These figures are extremely worrying for anybody with elderly relatives, but also for society as a whole.

“That four privately owned care homes are graded weak for Quality of Care and Support is unacceptable, especially as it is for additional care and support that many people enter homes in the first place.

“The Scottish Government must take urgent action to address these issues, either by increasing investment in care for the elderly or by finding a way to raise standards within existing budget constraints.

“Alex Salmond talks of a compassionate society that puts the needs of the poor, vulnerable and elderly first. It is up to him to deliver on that vision.

“Slashing 25% from the budget of the regulatory body tasked with supporting improvement and highlighting good practice is not the way to achieve positive change.”

The Scottish Government said 56% of the 36 North Lanarkshire care homes were graded as good or very good.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “There are is no slashing of social care budgets – care of the elderly is a key priority for ministers and is supported by the £70 million change fund.

“Poor grading on one of the quality themes taken into account by SCSWIS during inspections does not mean that a service is failing or putting users at risk, but there is no place in Scotland for poor performers and improvements will be made.”