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‘I’m 74 and waiting to die’: Serious failings in care uncovered at Manchester residential care home

By James Metcalf

A Manchester residential care home is failing to meet national standards of care in key areas including safeguarding from abuse according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

While significant improvements had been made at the Artane Residential Care Home since the CQC’s previous visit in 2012 the final findings showed serious shortcomings in care.

The report from the July inspection states that the care home is failing to meet the required standard in five areas, including consent to care and treatment, safeguarding from abuse, and monitoring of service quality.

Artane, which accommodates nine people under 65-years-old with mental disorders, is also failing to adequately care for the welfare of people using the services, and staffing in the care home was found to be less than satisfactory.

A CQC spokesperson told MM: “The CQC has identified concerns regarding Artane Residential Care Home in Manchester and the registered provider’s failure to comply with national standards of care. We are working closely with Manchester City Council to address these issues. 

“Our priority is to ensure that services users’ welfare and needs are met properly and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action to make this happen.”

The report was the product of a routine, unannounced inspection involving observations of care and speaking to people using the service.

In the course of their investigation, one patient told the CQC: “I’ve been here five and a half years; I’m 74 and waiting to die. I’m OK here.”

Another said: “I wish they would take us out.”

The CQC detailed in their latest report that important information was incorrectly filed and was not shared between staff, consent for the withdrawal of money was not obtained, and activities in the home were limited.

Crucially, the CQC found that the provider had not taken reasonable steps to identify, prevent, or deal with abuse.

As a result of their findings the CQC has issued a compliance action, meaning the provider must produce a report setting out the changes to be made and when they will be taking place.

“The CQC will publish a further report on any action we have taken when the time is right.  In the meantime we will work with the local authority to ensure that people are safe and properly cared for,” a CQC spokesperson said.

If the care home is found to be continually in breach of the standards of care set by the CQC an enforcement action may be issued.

Dr Mohammed Islam, the registered provider of the Artane care home, told MM: “We have put everything in order and the CQC are coming to do another inspection.”

Image courtesy of Jonas Boni, with thanks

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