FOI investigation reveals food poisoning risk at hundreds of care settings
Dirty hospitals are serving out-of-date food to patients, an investigation has found.
Meals are being prepared in mouldy kitchens, putting vulnerable patients at “high risk” of food poisoning, while others have unclean worktops, food trolleys and sinks.
The Press Association analysis of food hygiene reports obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and data from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), also revealed poor rankings for hundreds of care homes and children’s nurseries.
Some 400 hospitals, hospices, care homes, nurseries and school clubs are currently listed as needing “major”, “urgent” or “necessary” improvement. One care home was infested with cockroaches while another had evidence of rats.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme – which rates organisations and businesses from zero to five – is run by the FSA and councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Overall, eight health and care premises currently have a zero rating – urgent improvement necessary. None are hospitals.
Some 187 have a rating of one – major improvement necessary. Three of these are hospital premises, including the private Priory Hospital in Altrincham, Cheshire.
And 205 are ranked as two – improvement necessary. They include six hospitals and about 100 care homes.
Among those given the ranking of two was Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.
Problems were found in its kitchens serving patients, those in the Bennion Centre for the elderly, the Bradgate mental health unit and at the L’Eat restaurants for patients and visitors.
An inspection of patient catering kitchens in August found sliced chicken two days past its use-by date. Inspectors found staff had created their own date labels for when they thought food should be used, creating a “high risk” for patients who might develop food poisoning.
The experts also found leaking sinks, “inadequate” knowledge among staff about how to handle food safely, and mouldy areas, including the salad preparation room.
The report pointed to major problems with condensation, saying: “There was a lot of water in the corridors and store rooms caused by condensation on walls and ceilings which was dripping and pooling on the floor.
“There was a lot of mould and mouldy sealant caused by the damp conditions.”
Flies were also found in the washing-up area, salad was being washed in a sink in direct contact with the plug and bags of salad had passed their use-by date but were being used for sandwiches and salads.
Food stored in freezers was not covered properly, with food having evidence of “freezer burn”.
Inspectors also found dirty hand wash basins and food trolleys used to take meals to patients with “dried-on” food on them.
Other problems included rusty microwaves and staff not using disinfectant to clean worktops.
Furthermore, food was being kept in fridges with temperatures up to 13C despite rules saying they should be 5C or below to prevent bacteria developing.
At L’Eat, sandwiches and salads were being kept at 16C to 18C in display fridges. Mouldy red and green peppers were found in store cupboards, while beetroot, lettuce and tomatoes had all passed their use-by date.
Inspectors also found tin openers “encrusted with food”, “dirty” containers full of “onion debris” being re-used, and badly damaged chopping boards.
The Bennion Centre report described mouldy kitchen areas and too-warm fridges with cheesecakes and tiramisu desserts way past their sell-by dates.
At the Bradgate unit, sandwiches were being kept at 15C to 21C, opened tins of tomato soup were found in the fridge, and dirty and worn scrubbing brushes were in use.
Darryn Kerr, director of facilities at Leicester’s Hospitals, said the organisation was “disappointed” by the ratings. He said catering services were brought back in-house in May after being run by an external provider.
He added: “We take these matters very seriously and acknowledge the issues noted within the report. We already have an action plan in place to urgently address the areas that need improvement.”
West Heath Hospital in Birmingham, which serves 42 inpatients and runs a restaurant, was ranked one in March.
Inspectors found dirt, out-of-date food, turkey and beef being frozen against instructions, with desserts and bacon being given too long use-by dates by staff.
A spokeswoman said operating procedures had now improved.
Parkview Residential Care Home in Bexleyheath, south-east London, was found to have an “infestation of Oriental cockroaches” during an August inspection.
The kitchen was closed voluntarily for the second time following a previous warning and inspectors gave it a zero rating.
Ivy House care home in Derby, which specialises in dementia care, scored zero after inspectors found evidence of rat activity. The home said the problems have now been rectified and related to an outbuilding.
Elsewhere, Hulton Care Home in Manchester was given a rating of one in August. Inspectors found raw meat being kept incorrectly and repairs needed.
A spokesman said it was awaiting a new rating, adding: “Following the inspection we worked with our catering partner Elior UK and quickly made the required improvements.
An FSA spokeswoman said: “An overwhelming majority, almost 99%, of hospitals and other care providers achieve a food hygiene rating of 3 – “generally satisfactory” – or better.
“The food safety officer from the local authority will be taking the necessary action to ensure that the issues identified at caring premises with a lower rating are addressed and that vulnerable people are not put at risk.”
Attention to food hygiene ‘the crux of good public service and patient care’
Neglecting standards of good food hygiene in hospitals and care homes is “shameful”, the head of the Patients Association has said.
Katherine Murphy described the findings of a Press Association investigation into food hygiene as “worrying”, adding that the health of vulnerable people was being put at risk.
She said: “Attention to detail over food hygiene forms the crux of good public service and patient care, and the fact that official rankings are highlighting care homes, hospitals and pre-schools amongst those needing major or urgent improvement is immensely worrying.
“This says to me that big institutions – places that people trust and rely on – are at best apathetic and at worst careless towards public and patient safety and wellbeing.
“These institutions are treating and caring for some of the most vulnerable people and children in society. To either overlook or neglect the standards of good food hygiene is shameful.”
Simon Blackburn, chairman of the Local Government Association’s safer and stronger communities board, which represents councils who carry out inspections, said: “Councils always take action to tackle poor or dangerous hygiene and work with businesses and organisations with lower ratings to improve conditions.
“However, making the display of food hygiene ratings mandatory, which the LGA is calling for, would also ensure people are fully aware about standards in places where they buy or eat food.”
Nadra Ahmed, chairwoman of the National Care Association, which represents care home providers, said the vast majority employed specific staff who have food hygiene training.
She added: “What this highlights for me is that there is room for improvement. Food is a really important part of what we do.
“We would certainly be looking to ensure that our members are made aware of this.”
Claire Schofield, director of policy, membership and communications at the National Day Nurseries Association, said: “The nurseries listed are rare exceptions – the vast majority of settings score very highly on food hygiene and are very committed to food safety and excellent standards.”
A spokesman for the Priory Group of private hospitals, which scored poorly for some of its premises, said: “An overwhelming majority of our hospitals achieve a food hygiene rating of three or better. Where, occasionally, this is not the case, we take robust action to ensure that all the issues are swiftly addressed including additional staff training and equipment checks in addition to daily inspections.”
A statement from the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital said it had a follow-up inspection and was expecting a “significant improvement” in its rating.
It added: “The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital takes hygiene very seriously.
“Following our inspection and subsequent rating of two, we immediately put an action plan into place to rectify all of the issues outlined by our Environmental Health Officer.
A statement from Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Engie, which provides the food, said the inspection had revealed “issues relating to the processes and documentation within the catering service”.
It added: “It is important to stress that there were no immediate concerns regarding the safety of the food being served.
“Engie and the Trust would like to reassure patients, the public, visitors and employees that food safety is of paramount importance and that all food prepared at the hospital is safe and of good quality.”
A spokesman for Woodford Care Home said: “We did make improvements but there were shortcomings.
“We have invested thousands of pounds in new equipment, such as fridges and freezers, and we are now improving our auditing systems.”
Eight premises with zero food hygiene rating
Eight premises which provide care services were ranked zero – the lowest score possible – during food hygiene inspections.
They are:
- Fairy Tales Day Nursery, Glen Parva, Leicestershire (inspected in May and then closed due to a mouse infestation. It has since been taken over by another firm.)
- Ivy House care home, Whitaker Road, Derby
- Little Care Bearz Nursery, Birmingham
- Loving Care, Canol y Llan, Llanwrin, Machynlleth, Powys
- Glory Day Nursery, Barking
- Parkview Residential Care Home, Bexleyheath
- Stay and Play at Millbrook Primary School, Newport
- Woodford Care Home, Hull
Nine hospitals with poorest food hygiene ratings
Nine hospitals currently have poor food hygiene ratings for all or part of their premises. They are:
- West Heath Hospital, Birmingham – ranked one
- The Priory Hospital, Cheshire – ranked one
- Luton and Dunstable Hospital – ranked one
- Glenfield Hospital, Leicester – ranked two in inspections of its L’Eat restaurant, patient service kitchens, Bennion centre for the elderly and Bradgate mental health unit
- Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham – ranked two
- Woodbourne Priory Hospital, Birmingham – ranked two
- Bronllys Hospital, Powys – ranked two
- Pinehill private hospital, Hertfordshire – ranked two
- Priory Group, Suffolk – ranked two
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Peter Byrne / PA Wire.
