A Bristol care home 'requires improvement' after an inspection identified issues with its Covid-19 protocols. Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Bishopsmead Lodge in January and found staff were wearing PPE incorrectly and keyboards weren't being properly cleaned, according to a report.
Inspectors were "not always assured" the care home, in Bishopsworth, was promoting safety through its hygiene practices, or making sure outbreaks could be effectively "prevented or managed." They said they found "poor practice" in how staff were wearing and disposing of gloves and surgical masks.
A spokesperson from the healthcare provider which operates the care home, Four Seasons Health Care, says it "swiftly implemented an action plan to address these issues" following the inspection on January 13, adding that the "safety and wellbeing of everyone in our homes remains our first priority."
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The inspection report reads: "We were not always assured that the provider was promoting safety through the layout and hygiene practices of the premises. For example, we were not always assured keypads were being cleaned regularly.
"We also found poor practice relating to how staff were wearing gloves and surgical masks. For example, staff were seen to place their gloves on top of a chest of draws rather than into a clinical bin. Another member of staff had one glove on whilst the other was handling an electronic care-planning gadget.
"Staff were also seen to be wearing their surgical masks incorrectly. We raised this with the registered manager following our inspection who confirmed they would take action to address this with staff."
Inspectors also said they were not assured the provider "was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed." They continued: "During our inspection we found staff working between different floors. No risk assessment had been undertaken to identify what risk this posed with staff working between the floors. Due to staff not wearing their PPE correctly this could pose a risk of cross infection between the different floors."
Inspectors noted that the care home had experienced a short period when it was understaffed, due to a "higher than expected number of staff testing positive for Covid-19," but added "at the time of the inspection the service was fully staffed."
They also found examples of good practice, including that people had been supported to keep in touch with families, social distancing was encouraged, and staff had access to PPE and had received training in infection prevention control. "The provider was testing staff every week," the report continues. "This included testing agency staff."
A spokesperson for Four Seasons responded: “Our hard working teams strive each day to protect everyone in our homes while continuing to manage the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus.
"While we are pleased that the CQC noted several positive aspects of care in the home, we recognise that there were areas highlighted that needed improvement and after the inspection in January we swiftly implemented an action plan to address these issues. The safety and wellbeing of everyone in our homes remains our first priority.”
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