"care home wishaw"

I am absolutely heartbroken. My mum was admitted to a care home approx 10 weeks ago after a serious illness. We had had concerns from early on and when raising them with staff the stock answer was always that they would pass it on.

The home had a recent outbreak of norovirus with family being informed only 1 visitor allowed, although many agency staff were being used and staff from other units being utilised  as well as patients still being allowed to mix within the day room. Subsequently this resulted in my mum catching norovirus which led to my mum being isolated in her room.

I felt there was little monitoring of my mum's wellbeing at this time, with my mum appearing to be dehydrated. My sister, the nominated visitor, raised concerns about this and the lack of nursing care as my mum had a recent necrosis in her leg which required frequent dressing. My sister was informed there was no nursing staff and had to request several times that the care manager come and dress my mum's leg as she was concerned it was infected. The care manager eventually arrived to do this. My sister also raised her concern regarding the general untidiness of the room, with curdled milk and curled up sandwiches sitting which led her to believe they had been there for sometime. Also my mum had no access to fluids to keep her hydrated. My sister raised these issues  and suggested that a fluid and food intake chart should be initiated.

Unfortunately my sister fell ill with the bug and I took over the visiting. On one occasion when I visited my mum stated I needed to get her out of there. She then went on to say there was a carer whom she believed was from the bank staff as she did not recall seeing them before and this person when moving her had grabbed her by the back of the neck and hair roughly causing her to yelp. On the same night my mum had to use her buzzer and the same person entered her room and shouted at her stating this was the second time she had buzzed. My mum was very distressed and frightened. I shared my concern with the senior nurse on duty and they informed me this was inappropriate and they would pass it on. 

The following morning I contacted my mum's social worker to pass on my concerns. She listened, was empathetic, took advice from her senior and advised an adult support and protection would be raised.  I then informed her I was going to visit my mum and she advised I speak to the manager.

On doing this the manager informed this information had not been passed onto them, nor had the concerns been recorded in my mum's notes. The manager apologised for this and informed me this would be investigated and they would be advising the bank of the situation. The manager also advised they had discussed the information with mum's social worker and appropriate safeguarding procedures would be put in place until my mum was moved to a safer, more suitable accommodation.

I could cite other incidents of concern however this was the most serious, this information has also been passed to the SSSC hopefully other family members will not have to experience this with there vulnerable loved ones.