Care home told to improve after probe into standards

A11 Week 24 MCBH DP View, Cherry Tree House, Dobbins Lane, Wendover

SERIOUS failings have been uncovered at a Wendover care home, after an inspection report.
On Monday, the Care Quality Commission announced it has severe concerns about Cherry Tree House, in Dobbins Lane.
The commission’s report reveals clients were not given medicines as often as they were needed, staff had not done mandatory training, and care plans were not kept up to date.
Inspectors also found a leaking roof had been left unrepaired for ‘some time’, with water seeping into a lounge where many people spent most of their day.
Contaminated waste was stored on a garden patio, and fire exits were blocked, the report revealed.
Inspectors also uncovered failings in the way care standards were monitored for clients.
Managers at the 20-bed care home, which is privately owned, have been given 14 days to confirm what action they will take to improve standards.
Of 16 key areas which the home was assessed on, inspectors ruled it had failed to meet four.
A further five were highlighted for improvements, despite being met.
And Cherry Tree House was judged to be meeting seven of the criteria with no concerns.
In its report the commission said it was alarmed that residents were not being given their medicines on time.
The document states: “We looked at two people’s medication administration records to check they were receiving their medication as prescribed by their GPs.
“There were gaps on both these records.
“This indicated they had not received some of their medication as prescribed.
“One showed that medication prescribed to be taken four times a day had only been administered three times a day over a two-week period.”
Inspectors said another patient, who was supposed to have ibroprufen gel applied three times a day had only had it done twice for two weeks.
The Commission ruled that the home was not meeting required standards for management of its medicines.
Cherry Tree House was also criticised for not caring for people in safe and accessible surroundings.
When inspectors visited the centre in February, they found water leaking into a communal lounge.
The report said: “The corrugated roof in the communal lounge was leaking and a bucket placed on the floor to catch the water drips.
“People told us that the roof had been dripping for some time and had dripped in other places, too.
“There were no plans in place to have this repaired immediately.”
Inspectors also highlighted concerns about the way money was safeguarded.
Highlighting concern about guarding residents’ money, the report said: “We observed a person living in the home, giving a member of staff some money to purchase some good for them.
“This was not recorded at that time and was against the policies and procedures in place in the home.”
A spokesman from the Care Quality Commission told the Herald yesterday he was hopeful improvements could be made.
He said: “We expect them to improve in time for our next visit.
“We’re there to make sure that all the standards are met, none of them are optional.”
Bosses at the care home declined to comment on the report’s findings, or to reveal what steps had been taken to improve standards.
Source http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/