Formby care home failed to improve after a February inspection

Formby care home did not fully protect residents against risks associated with unsafe use medicines

A care home was told that its residents “were not fully protected” against risks associated with unsafe use medicines.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out an inspection at Phoenix House Care Home, Andrews Lane, Formby, in February this year.

After finding that the home was breaching regulations and not managing medicines safely, the CQC returned on August 6, to check that Phoenix House Care Home “had now met legal requirements”.

However in this visit, the CQC found that residents “were still not fully protected against the risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medicines”, according to the report.

The care home received an overall rating of “Requires Improvement”, with the safety and how well-led the service they provide receiving the requires improvement rating.

Mr Kelvin Bacon who owns the care home, as well as Maryland Residential Home inFormby, said: “Generally I think the inspection went well. My understanding is that at the minute about 50% of care homes need improvement and many are rated inadequate.

“We need to tighten up. It was a good report if you like – the improvement needed isn't about the care we give to the residents.”

For the effectiveness of their care, their responsiveness and how caring their service is, Phoenix Care Home received a “Good” rating.

The CQC report said: "We looked at records for two people who were given their medicines covertly i.e. hidden in food or drinks without the person’s knowledge or consent.

"In the action plan sent to us in July 2015, the provider told us that arrangements for giving medicines in this way would be reviewed and documentation put into place in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and current national pharmaceutical guidance, together with detailed instructions for care workers to follow."

However, when the CQC returned at the start of August they found "these arrangements had still not been made".

Mr Bacon said: “We don't consider the rating to be a major issue. We are no where near the inadequate level. It is more a paperwork issue.”

Pheonix House Care Home can accommodate up to 30 residents and has specialist services in looking after dementia sufferers.

Story Source: Southport Visiter

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