Care home rapped for dirty mattresses and stained furniture

A Renfrewshire nursing home has received a damning inspection report after a watchdog found dirty mattresses and stained furniture during a recent check-up.

Ranfurly Care Home in Johnstone was graded as “weak” by the Care Inspectorate during an assessment that specifically focused on the management of the facility during the pandemic.

Inspectors identified multiple problems with cleanliness as they found some mattresses to be “soiled and odorous” and discovered bedside tables were stained.

Food was also found stuffed down the side of soft furnishings and the home was slammed for its placement of personal protective equipment (PPE) disposal bins.

The home has now been given until Friday, May 14, to ensure its infection prevention and control procedures are up to scratch.

The inspection report said: “We found greater attention to detail could be made with mattress checks as we found two were soiled and odorous.

“The underside of bedside tables were stained and we found food stuffed down the side of soft furnishings.

“We found the tops of wardrobes and door frames dusty, which presented as a potential source of infection. Staff were responsive and responded to our findings immediately when we gave feedback.

“People were able to move around the home and were encouraged to maintain social distancing. Staff could describe the infection prevention and control procedures for people who were in isolation.

“We noted there was a lack of PPE disposal bins close to PPE stations and that vinyl gloves were being stored beside nitrile gloves. This meant staff had to walk along corridors to dispose of soiled PPE.

“Vinyl gloves should not be used when providing personal care to people.

“The management team responded by sitting bins near PPE stations and placing vinyl gloves on the domestic service trollies.”

The home in Quarrelton Road has recently been taken over by Anavo Group after previous owners Silverline Care got into financial difficulties and called in administrators last month.

Anavo also took over the running of the adjacent sister facility Cochrane Care Home, which was graded as “weak” back in December before improvements were made.

Despite the hygienic issues found at Ranfurly, inspectors said most areas were clean and fresh.

The report said staff were supportive of residents and the watchdog spotted “warm and respectful” interactions between workers and residents.

Staff were said to be responsive to the healthcare needs of residents and managers had “good oversight” of clinical risk.

Inspectors did, however, find not all staff had completed the necessary training around coronavirus.

Bosses have been instructed to make sure they implement a system of “direct observation” of staff practicing infection prevention and control, including using and disposing of PPE and handwashing, by May 14.

A spokesman for Ranfurly Care Home said: “We would like to reassure the residents and their families we take the feedback very seriously, and our priority is to appropriately address all of the issues raised.

“We have been responsible for the operations of the home from March 22, 2021. Our highly experienced operational team has developed a robust action plan, and we are confident our actions will lead to sustainable improvements.”

By local democracy reporter Steph Brawn