'Serious safeguarding concerns' at Greasbrough care home

Rotherham Borough Council said it planned to move more than 30 elderly residents out of Greasbrough Residential and Nursing Home (pictured) after the home was rated as “inadequate” across the board by inspectors.

Deborah Egley, whose dad Alan Richardson has been at the home for two years, claimed examples of poor care included residents being barred the use of fans, left with woollen blankets during a heatwave and being left unattended to soil themselves - claims the home denies.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), who rated the facility as “good” just two years ago, said it was now inadequate in all areas.

And the borough council’s director of adult care, Anne Marie Lubanski said: “Following an ‘inadequate’ CQC rating in all five areas of assessment, and a number of significant safeguarding concerns, we have no option but to terminate our contract with Greasbrough care home.

“When issues were identified by the CQC during their inspection in May the council and our health partners offered support to the home to resolve their issues but the situation has not improved. 

“We will now work with residents and their families to assess their needs and find alternative accommodation.”

Council staff would visit the home daily to ensure residents moving went smoothly.

Ms Egley, of Aughton Road in Swallownest, said she had been so concerned for her 70-year-old dad that she complained to the council.

On “the hottest day in July” no fans were used because, she was allegedly told, the home’s director thought “they look ugly”.

Ms Egley said the home suffered from a lack of staff, adding: “One day I went in and my father needed the toilet. 

“There were three staff in. He urinated twice within the hour and I had to change him myself.”

Care home director Dr Mohammed Husain said Ms Egley’s allegations were untrue and he was not aware of any complaint.

Inspectors had to point out residents who needed attention, as carers were too “task-orientated”, the report found.

They noted that care plans, risk management and medicine protocols were not always followed, putting residents “at risk of harm” from choking and falls. A bath which had been condemned by maintenance workers in 2017 was still in use this year, they discovered.

Inspectors found “many errors in medicine administration”, including medicine storage which did not lock, leaving drugs accessible to “anyone who entered”.

Residents were often left alone, without any stimulation, they found.

Ms Egley added: “It feels like a prison camp.

“There is nothing there to like and nothing to do there. 

“There’s no way for residents to sit outside and no minibus hired to take them anywhere. It’s just the bare necessities.”

Dr Husain said he was “very disappointed” by the inspection but had no intention to close and urged concerned residents and relatives to get in touch with the manager.

He said the home had always had an excellent reputation and “welcomed the opportunity to address any imperfections”.

Dr Hussain added: “The service has been working with the CQC and Rotherham Council to bring about improvements and to address specific anomalies”, adding that a plan was in place to make improvements.