Antrim nursing home could face prosecution
Thursday, 6 November 2008
A PRIVATE Nursing Home in Antrim could face prosecution should it continue to allow standards to drop below the required level, a health care regulator has warned.
This year the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has issued Orchard Manor Nursing Home with three separate notices of failure to comply with Nursing Homes Regulations - in March, July and October.
It is understood the latest warning relates to standards in the home's kitchen, while in July seven nurses were suspended for inadequate level of care.
In each case Orchard Manor has subsequently achieved compliance with regulations within the time period set by the RQIA, however, given the pattern of failure at the home, the RQIA was warned the next course of regulatory action would be prosecution.
The health group also has the power to close the Home should future problems exist.
A spokesperson for RQIA said: "The safety and well-being of residents at Orchard Manor is of paramount importance to the RQIA. In recent months our regulatory activity at the home has increased significantly, and through our inspections we will continue to monitor closely the quality of care, life, management and the environment at Orchard Manor.
“During this period we have kept the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, which has responsibility for the placement of individual residents in Orchard Manor, fully informed of our actions."
It was reported last week that the Northern Trust had taken the decision to remove patients from the private home stating a 'loss in confidence' as the reason.
A spokesperson for the Northern Health Trust said: "The Trust took the decision to withdraw from Orchard Manor on October 13 and advised Southern Cross by letter. We have been working since then with residents and their families to find alternative accommodation.
“We considered very carefully about moving these older people, many of whom are very vulnerable. Our decision was prompted by concerns raised by the Regulator including a number of 'Failure to Comply' notices issued to the home. We also had concerns about the home's ability to sustain the improvements that had been noted.
“This decision was made in the best interests of the older people in our care. We are working closely with families to ensure that the transition to their new homes will be as smooth and with as little disruption as possible."
An Antrim man whose mother has been staying at Orchard Manor for the past two years outlined his concern over the private nursing home.
