Greencroft Nursing Home scrutinised after death of resident

Care home officials have confirmed a Flintshire nursing home has been placed under special scrutiny following the death of a resident last month.

Beatrice Morgan, 88, died in hospital while being treated for scald injuries.

She had been a resident at the private Greencroft Nursing Home at Shotton at the time of the incident.

Flintshire council said it was working with other agencies to “address performance issues” at the home. The home’s owner has been asked to comment.

Care homes can be placed under “escalating concerns” through Welsh government guidelines when serious issues are raised about a premises.

Alwyn Jones, head of social services for adults at Flintshire council, said: “Flintshire County Council are working closely with representatives of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales to address performance issues that have been drawn to our attention within Greencroft Nursing Home.

“At the end of last week we informed the relatives of all residents within the home that it has been placed under ‘escalating concerns’, consistent with Welsh government statutory guidance, and that a corrective plan will be developed by the home.

“The corrective plan being developed by the home has not been shared at present.

“The authority and our partners are committed to working closely with the home to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents living there.”

The home, which can accommodate up to 36 residents, was subject to an inspection by Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) in May.

A report on the inspection published in August raised concerns about the lack of an appropriately qualified manager for the premises.

Unannounced inspections

As part of that report, CSSIW issued the home with a non-compliance notice, requiring that the issue be addressed by the end of August.

Following the death of Mrs Morgan, the inspectorate said a series of unannounced inspections “highlighted a number of accumulated issues relating to the management and quality of care provided, and this required prompt improvements to be made”.

“Failure to address and resolve identified issues has subsequently led to the establishment being placed under escalating concerns status in order to ensure co-ordinated intervention by commissioning agencies and CSSIW to secure necessary improvements,” said CSSIW.

Ms Morgan died at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside on 24 September.

An inquest was opened and adjourned at the start of October and a full inquest into the circumstances surrounding her death is expected to be held at a later date.