Large-scale probe into treatment of care home residents

A large-scale investigation has been launched into the treatment of elderly residents at a care home on Great Cumbrae.

Police Scotland, North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran are looking into complaints that residents have been mistreated at Millport Care Centre.

The Care Inspectorate says it is aware of the concerns and issued an improvement notice to the care home, owned by Sanctuary Care Limited, on April 2.

A whistleblower told The Daily Record newspaper that she witnessed three members of staff at the home pin a woman down, while a fourth allegedly ordered a nurse to give her the Covid jab through her clothes.

Sanctuary Care strongly deny that specific allegation. Two staff members at the care home have been suspended but not in relation to the allegations presented.

A spokesperson for the company told STV News: “We strongly refute the allegations made and are confident that our staff appropriately supported an NHS nurse as they recently administered a second dose of a Covid vaccine to a resident at this home.

“We are working closely with North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership to make the improvements required in this home based on the findings of a recent Care Inspectorate report and can reassure the families of our residents that we are committed to providing their loved ones with the high quality care they deserve.”

The centre in Millport is registered to provide care for up to 27 adults with learning or physical disabilities.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland, working with local health and social care partners, is involved in a large-scale investigation into reports of concerns over the care of residents at Millport Care Centre. Enquiries are ongoing.”

North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP) is providing a staff presence at Millport Care Centre over the coming weeks while the investigation is being carried out.

A spokesperson for NAHSCP said: “As the local regulatory body for care services, NAHSCP is committed to ensuring that the welfare of those looked after by those services is of the utmost priority.

“An investigation is currently under way and North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership is working alongside partners to support the operators to improve standards.

“We are providing a staff presence at Millport Care Centre over the coming weeks to ensure that service users’ needs are being appropriately met, to maintain the safety of the individuals receiving support and [to] provide supervision and support for staff while the investigation is carried out.

“We would like to reassure the families of those who are looked after at the Millport Care Centre that their safety and well-being is our ultimate priority and as such we are contacting families and guardians to provide information and support in relation to the investigation process.”

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “We recently inspected the service and issued an improvement notice on April 2 that details areas of care that need to improve.

“We continue to monitor the service and we are liaising closely with the local health and social care partnership.

“Everyone in Scotland has the right to good quality, safe care. Anyone with a concern about a care service can contact us on 0345 600 9527.”