Under-fire care home to close after contract axed

It was found residents at Ruthrieston House were put at significant risk due to how medicine was managed

A care home where residents were put at serious risk due to problems with medicine management has been forced to close.

Aberdeen City Council has terminated its contract with VSA, which operates Ruthrieston House, after the Care Inspectorate raised "serious and significant concerns" about the quality of care.

An 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. Inspectors issued an improvement notice after a follow up visit.

Announcing the home's closure, VSA said it was unable to make improvements "in a satisfactory timeframe".

It said the home would close as soon as the council had found residents suitable placements with other providers.

The council gave VSA 13 weeks' notice on 6 December that it would be seeking new placements.

Sue Freeth, chief executive officer at VSA, said the company was committed to finding roles for staff directly impacted by the decision.

She apologised to residents and loved ones for being "unable to care for them to the high standards that underpins our mission".

She added: "Our priority continues to be ensuring our residents are safe and well cared for while they are in our care. A new manager who joined us this week will be leading the completion of the required improvements and the day to day service closure."

Issues at the home were first raised in June when inspectors judged the facility was not meeting care standards.

VSA said it responded by putting extra staff on every shift, providing new tools to support "better care and monitoring of residents' needs" and making efforts to fill staff vacancies.

It said the Care Inspectorate had recognised signs of improvement in October.

'Significant concern'

However an improvement notice was issued on 3 December after a follow-up inspection, which set out the issues with medicine management.

The Care Inspectorate set out five areas that needed to be tackled, including more effective auditing of medication.

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

It set a deadline of 20 January for these improvements to be made - VSA concluded it was unable to meet this deadline.

A new manager has joined the home to lead the day-to-day service closure.

The Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP) said: "Given the areas of significant concern highlighted by the Care Inspectorate, Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership and Aberdeen City Council have taken the decision to give notice to VSA to terminate the contract at Ruthrieston House Care Home.

"Staff from ACHSCP are working closely with VSA, residents and families to ensure that those who live in Ruthrieston House are moved as seamlessly as possible into new services which meet their assessed needs.

"Meetings with residents, their families and Ruthrieston House staff have been held to clearly explain the decision and ongoing communication and full support will be provided."