Malnourished patients found at Somerset care home

A NORTH Somerset care home has been told to make major changes after an inspection revealed it was understaffed and several of its patients were malnourished.

The review, carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), found the Leonard Elms dementia care home to be ‘failing to meet six of the essential standards of quality and safety’.

Inspectors visited the £560-£700-a-week home in mid-June and found several areas in need of urgent strengthening. The review said patients were at risk unless improvements were made quickly.

One inspector for the CQC said: “People who use the service are not protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and hydration. Support for people with eating and drinking is limited.”

Inspectors found staff gave patients breakfast in their rooms but did not check it was eaten regularly. Patients on special diets or nutrition programmes were also not being monitored carefully enough.

Between May and June of this year there were 24 accidents at the care home. The CQC criticised the lack of analysis done by staff to work out why there were so many and what could be done to prevent them happening again.

The report said: “People are not being cared for by sufficient numbers of skilled staff to meet their (patients) needs at all times. Our review raised concerns that people who use the service are not having their needs met due to a permanent manager not being in post.”

Matthew Bliss has since been installed as the permanent manger at the home in Brinsea Road, Congresbury.

He said: “It is very concerning that they have taken these views and judgements. The home has always operated under an excellent rating before.”

More care staff have since been employed on a full-time basis and a more rigorous training programme introduced. He said 90 per cent of the recommended improvements were made within a week of hearing from the CQC.

But Mr Bliss said he questioned the severity of some of their concerns. He said the group of five specifically highlighted with regards to malnourishment, could not be considered truly reflective of the 72-bed home as a whole.

He said: “The provision of care we offer is not demonstrated in this report.

“We absolutely welcome back the inspectors in the near future. We have already moved forwards and the home is far from what is outlined in the report.”

Ian Biggs, regional director of CQC in the South West, said inspectors would now keep the care home under review while improvements were made.

He said: “Until recently, Leonard Elms care home did not have a permanent manager and the nurses covering as deputy managers were finding it difficult to manage both the home and lead the nursing care. Insufficient staffing levels may also explain why people haven’t been getting the help they need to eat and drink properly.

“Since the date of our inspection, the provider has supplied us with information which sets out the actions being taken to address the concerns raised and the home has taken on a new manager.”

Mr Biggs said inspectors would soon return to the home to check improvements had been made.