A Bute care home has been told to close its doors following an investigation by a watchdog that revealed it was placing its residents at risk of harm.
The Craigard home had had a red flag raised about its practices by the Care Inspectorate earlier this year and, following this, was issued with a notice to improve in September. The inspectorate said that it had uncovered a "high level of risk for residents' safety and protection" of residents at the home, all of whom were elderly.
The Care Inspectorate then took the Rothesay-based home to Greenock Sheriff Court in order to obtain an urgent order to close it down, a demand which was met by the court. The owner of the home will now work alongside Argyll and Bute Council to make alternative living arrangements for the 12 residents who still remain at the home.
An inspectorate spokesman said: "The health, safety and well-being of vulnerable people is always our first concern. Our most recent inspection identified significant weaknesses in the way people are cared for at this care home which, despite support, have not improved.
"Our assessment is that the home is failing to provide even a satisfactory or safe level of care. That is why we sought the urgent closure of Craigard Care Home, at Greenock Sheriff Court on Monday. It is extremely rare for us to take action of this nature and we do so only when we must protect people from harm. The sheriff made an order suspending the care home's registration, to take effect from December 9. We strongly welcome that."
Care homes are rightfully under constant scrutiny to ensure that they offer the very best care to their vulnerable residents. Taking out adequate care insurance and care home insurance is a large part of the care package.
Among the concerns raised regarding the home included a "lack of information regarding the assessment and monitoring of the risk of falls", alongside "serious concern regarding the management of medication" and insufficient records regarding the medication being given to certain residents.
