Inspectors slam Kettering care home at centre of Covid death scandal as it's put into special measures

The report by the Care Quality Commission exposes serious failings at Temple Court during the coronavirus lockdown
Roade pensioner Mikhail Waskiw died on April 6 after being sent to the home from Northampton General Hospital for rehabilitation.Roade pensioner Mikhail Waskiw died on April 6 after being sent to the home from Northampton General Hospital for rehabilitation.
Roade pensioner Mikhail Waskiw died on April 6 after being sent to the home from Northampton General Hospital for rehabilitation.

The serious care failings that happened behind the doors of a Kettering nursing home have been revealed in a damning inspection report by the care home regulator.

The Care Quality Commission report published today (June 26), after a two-day inspection last month , has exposed a series of major failings at Temple Court, where 16 residents lost their lives after a Covid-19 outbreak and which is currently under police investigation.

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The inspection on May 12 and 13 was sparked after the regulator received information that residents could be at risk of harm and has resulted in the home being rated as inadequate.

The Care Quality Commission has said there were serious failings at the home at which 16 residents died with Covid-19.The Care Quality Commission has said there were serious failings at the home at which 16 residents died with Covid-19.
The Care Quality Commission has said there were serious failings at the home at which 16 residents died with Covid-19.

Inspectors discovered:

- Some residents were malnourished and dehydrated living in filthy conditions and sleeping in soiled beds

- Some had unreported and unexplained injuries

- Residents became ill and had to be hospitalised after wounds were not treated properly and became infected

Long term resident Roy Hunt died with the virus.Long term resident Roy Hunt died with the virus.
Long term resident Roy Hunt died with the virus.

- There was no management oversight after the registered manager went off ill and a shortage of staff. New staff were not trained properly and some had been given an induction or had their skills checked. There was not a permanent nurse at the home

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- Personal Protective Equipment was not disposed of safely putting people at risk of infection and staff did not know how to dispose of contaminated linen

- Medicines were not safely managed with some residents missing doses and others being given too many drugs

- Care plans were not in place, records were not kept and prompt medical action was not taken

- The care company did not follow its legal duty and did not report deaths or serious incidents

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- Relatives were not communicated with adequately during the lockdown and bereavement was not always handled sensitively.

The home, which is part of Amicura Ltd, (part of the Minster Care group) and was managed by Tina Dauncey, was closed on May 15 and further action could be taken against the company and the registered manager, once the police investigation has completed.

The care company says the root cause of the problems were due to Covid-19 and the issue is being ‘swept under the carpet’.

Deanna Westwood, CQC head of inspection for adult social care, said: “Our inspection of Temple Court identified serious failings which led to people suffering harm.

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“The service had not provided us with timely notification about serious incidents, including deaths and serious injuries, and when instances of possible abuse – such as unexplained bruising – were identified. Services are legally required to notify CQC without delay when these serious incidents happen, so we can provide support and make interventions when needed.

“The situation at the home was unacceptable and we support the joint decision of the clinical commissioning group and local authority to move people to other services. No-one is using the service currently and we will not give permission for it to admit new residents, unless we are fully assured that they can be cared for safely.

“If CQC takes further regulatory action regarding this service, details will be published as soon as legal restrictions allow”.

The inspection, which was unannounced, found the home had breached a number of regulations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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Over a period of several weeks, 16 residents died at the home. The home had taken in 15 people discharged from hospital on March 19, many of which later died, as well as long-established residents such as Rita Perrin and Roy Hunt.

The manager went off ill in April and the care company did not put in adequate measures to deal with the situation.

Inspectors spoke to several residents, their relatives, Temple Court staff and NHS community nurses during their investigations.

One relative told them: “They (staff) were over run, they were short-staffed and then with the influx of people they couldn’t cope.”

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Another said: “Sometimes we would visit around 1.30-2pm. (Family member) was still in bed and had been doubly incontinent and was covered in dried faeces.”

Garry Waskiw, whose father Mikhail was among those who tragically lost their lives and who died on April 6, said: “When people go in there it looks all hunky dory, but you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.

“We wish he had not gone in there but we were told by the hospital there were only two places he could have gone into. If he had not gone in there he may have been with us today. It is very upsetting.”

The CQC has rated the home inadequate in all areas of safety, effectiveness and leadership. It has restricted admissions into the home, which is not currently operating.

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