Care home told to improve over 'serious concerns'

An Improvement notice has been issued to an Aberdeen care home after inspectors raised "serious and significant concerns" about quality of care at the setting.

It follows a visit earlier this year by the Care Inspectorate when it was found residents at Ruthrieston House were put at significant risk due to how medicine was managed.

The inspection in October found one resident went 13 days without their prescribed medication, while another had medicine left in their mouth causing them to become drowsy.

The home's operator VSA said it was working to complete the requirements made at the recent follow-up visit.

Five areas of improvement have been set out by the Care Inspectorate.

Ruthrieston House needs to make the "significant improvements" by 20 January.

The improvements needed include more effective auditing of medication.

Care home staff have also been told to ensure risks to service users are better recorded and addressed.

Sue Freeth, CEO of VSA, said: "We take the feedback of the regulator extremely seriously and are working as hard as possible to complete the requirements detailed in the recent Care Inspectorate report.

"We remain in regular contact with the Care Inspectorate and continue to work closely with Aberdeen City Council, Ruthrieston House residents, their families and next of kin."

The Care Inspectorate said it would "not hesitate to take further action" if sustained improvements were not made.

A spokesperson added: "We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for residents, their families and staff at the service.

"However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of residents of the service.

"We are in contact with and monitoring the service to follow up on the required improvements."