A HEALTH board is taking action to move residents out of a care home as a watchdog seeks to have its registration cancelled.
The Care Inspectorate is taking the step after an inspection raised concerns over a “serious risk to the life, health and well-being of residents” at Elmgrove Care Home in Inverness. It has submitted an application to Inverness Sheriff Court to remove the home’s registration.
NHS Highland said it has subsequently decided to withdraw its contract with the care home provider and is urgently seeking to place all 24 residents in a “safer alternative environment”.
Simon Steer, interim director of adult social care at NHS Highland, said: “Emergency measures are being put in place and residents, their families and carers have been advised of the situation.
READ MORE: Lorry containing 39 dead people could have taken several routes to UK
“As a board, our priority is the safety and welfare of the residents of Elmgrove.
“We are working closely with the Care Inspectorate, fire service and other partners to provide staffing and other supports that may be required to ensure resident safety and welfare, whilst we urgently progress alternative care arrangements.”
The independent care home looks after older people.
A Care Inspectorate spokesman said: “An inspection identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by residents at Elmgrove Care Home in Inverness.
“As result of our findings we have concluded that there is a serious risk to the life, health and well-being of residents.
“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for residents, their loved ones and staff at the home. However, our first priority must always be the health and well-being of residents. We have therefore submitted an application to the sheriff court seeking cancellation of the care home’s registration.”
The care home has been approached for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here