Private care home company under fire over ‘grim, shoddy and unsafe care’

Four private care homes run by a company at the centre of an undercover TV investigation provided “grim, shoddy and unsafe care”, a damning watchdog report has revealed.

Distressed residents were ignored and left without help to eat at the homes, run by the Cornwall-based Morleigh Group – including St Theresa’s in Callington, Elmsleigh in Par, Clinton House in St Austell, and Collamere in Lostwithiel.

Clinton House closed earlier this month after a Panorama investigation, which included undercover filming showing one nurse threatening to give a resident morphine “to shut her up”.

An undercover reporter was able to work 14 shifts as a care assistant at the home without her references being taken up and without a criminal records check being completed.

The Care Quality Commission said all four homes have been rated “inadequate” and placed into special measures following separate inspections.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care, said: “These reports make horrifying reading – people in distress being ignored by staff; a person lying in a urine-soaked bed for two hours; people sat in the same chair all day with uneaten meals in front of them, and no help to eat or drink; someone needing medical attention waiting weeks to be referred to their GP.

“These and so many other examples to show why we have rated each of these homes as inadequate and are taking further action to protect the safety and welfare of the people living there.

“These services were providing grim, shoddy and unsafe care – the sort that no one should ever have to put up with. I am sorry that people have had to endure this poor level of care.

“The owner of the Morleigh Group knew what they needed to do to provide good quality care because we had made that clear.

“They were supported by Cornwall Council and the NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group to make improvements. They failed to listen and take action and they allowed the services to seriously decline since our previous inspections when the homes were rated as ‘requires improvement’.”

She added: “I know this is a worrying time for the residents, their families and carers – and I am sorry for the uncertainty and anxiety this situation must be causing them.

“We will continue to work closely with Cornwall Council and the NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that people are safe and well, and I am grateful to them for the support they are currently providing.”

Cornwall Council has apologised to residents of the homes and said what had been uncovered by the BBC was “shocking and utterly unacceptable”.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed it was involved in a multi-agency investigation and no arrests have been made.

_{Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved.}