Poor Hygiene At York Care Home

A care home in York was so dirty and damaged that managers had to be hauled before top council bosses. Hygiene inspectors published a Care Home, in Gale Lane, Acomb, after visiting the premises last autumn.

Trisha Haswell, senior environmental health officer at City of York Council, wrote in a report: “The premises were in a very poor state of cleanliness and repair.”

She said there were problems that had not been resolved since her previous visit six months earlier. Floors were dirty and torn; staff were failing to keep proper records of work; everyday kitchen items were dirty; and a number of food containers not clean enough.

Home managers were summoned to a formal interview at City of York Council headquarters, and interviewed under caution. The home managers were advised to seek legal advice, and the interview was recorded in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

The matter culminated in the home being given a formal caution due to the cleaning offences. Cautions are issued when offences are not deemed serious enough to merit prosecution and court action.
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The council also issued several formal Hygiene Improvement Notices, addressing issues such as torn flooring; damaged walls; poor ceiling repairs meaning bits could fall off the edges; loose and cracked wall tiles; and an accumulation of dirt on the floor. The home was ordered to remedy a number of other dirt-related offences immediately following the council inspection.

A spokesperson for the home said today: “All the historic issues raised by the council inspections have been addressed and this is acknowledged by a recent visit.

“The home is under new management and has a new chef and staff have been further trained to ensure their knowledge of external regulations and our own policies and procedures is up to date.”

Coun Sue Galloway, the council’s executive member for adult social services, said: “It is disappointing that such a situation existed at South Park, but I am pleased that it now appears to be resolved.

“As a council we will be looking at how we can work with owners of care homes to raise and maintain standards in the area of nutrition and this item will be discussed with the Independent Care Group in the autumn.”

The council’s report was obtained by The Press under Environmental Information Regulation laws, which are similar to the Freedom of Information Act.