A Dumfries home for the elderly could be forced to close amid “serious and significant concerns” over the standards of care provided at the facility.
The Care Inspectorate has lodged an application with the sheriff court seeking to cancel the registration of Dalawoodie House Nursing Home at Newbridge.
The watchdog took the action after the home failed to make required improvements following three inspections in February, April and June this year.
Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership (DGHSCP) has now provided the facility with extra staff to help look after the 26 residents.
DGHSCP chief officer Julie White said: “This is an extremely difficult and concerning time for residents of Dalawoodie care home and their families.
“DGHSCP’s prime concern in this situation is the health and wellbeing of residents.
“We are maintaining a presence at the care home meantime, to ensure that care is provided at a high standard.
“DGHSCP will be working to ensure residents and families are kept apprised of developments, and that the wider community remains informed.”
The Care Inspectorate issued Dalawoodie with an improvement notice on June 23 “requiring safe and effective management, leadership, and oversight of the care home and improved working practices and care of people in the home”.
But the operator of the facility failed to address the problems highlighted.
A Care Inspectorate spokesman said: “A further inspection and monitoring identified that none of the required improvements from the improvement notice were met and we identified further serious concerns.
“Because of this, we have submitted an application to the sheriff court seeking cancellation of the provider’s registration of the care home.
“This could allow new care arrangements to be put in place for residents.
“We are working closely with partners including Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership to ensure that residents experience appropriate care that meets their needs during this difficult time.”
He added: “We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for residents, their loved ones and staff at the home. However, our first priority is always the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.”
If the legal action is successful the current operators would be unable to run the facility but it could still continue if another registerd provider took the home on.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth described the court application as a “massive blow to care home residents and families”.
He added: “Cleary the Care Inspectorate have concluded that Dalawoodie is not meeting the needs of residents and this will be a deeply worrying time for them and staff, any my thoughts are very much with them.
“It comes at a time where there is already a chronic shortage of care home places in our region and a lack of carers to deliver care in the home.
“The word crisis is often banded about but when it comes to social care across Scotland, that is the only way to describe it. While we will need to await the outcome of any court action, there will be questions over future care for residents should Dalawoodie close.
