A WATCHDOG has ordered a York care home to carry out improvements after it failed to meet national standards.

The Care Quality Commission says that when it carried out an unannounced inspection at Birchlands in Haxby on February 11 and 13, standards of cleanliness and infection control were poor.

A report said it found dirty and stained commodes and some bedrooms had dirty and stained bed bumpers in place.

Some quilt covers were stained and 'debris' was found on many of the mattresses looked at, and a set of dirty and stained bedrail covers had been put on top of clean bedding.

"The poor standards observed coupled with the lack of effective cleaning schedules in place, meant there was a significant risk of transmission of infection within the home," it said.

The report said residents also did not always receive sufficient food or drink, and staff did not always provide appropriate support, meaning that some had lost weight.

"We found that food and fluid balance charts were not always completed properly which meant that people's food and fluid intake was not being properly monitored. This meant that the home was not alerted if someone was not eating or drinking enough."

Residents were also at increased their risk of developing a pressure sore because they didn't always receive appropriate pressure care.

The Press reported last month that Mimosa Health Care Group Limited, which owned Birchlands, had gone into administration and on Monday, the newspaper reported that City of York Council had suspended placing any more people there after a former member of staff alleged a resident had been restrained by being wrapped in a sheet by a member of staff, contrary to safeguarding procedures.

The council said it was investigating the allegations.

A spokeswoman for the administrators who have been appointed for Mimosa, BDO LLP, said they were 'working quickly to understand and resolve any issues that may be affecting homes within the Mimosa Healthcare group'.
She said a new home manager had recently been appointed at Birchlands and the administrators would be working closely with them to deliver high standards of care, and any concerns or issues previously raised would be comprehensively addressed.