Care home ban lifted

A ban on admitting new residents to the Blàr Buidhe care home in Stornoway has been lifted.

Western Isles Council launched a large scale investigation into the nourishment of pensioners living in the 40-bed facility.

In December an action plan requiring additional monitoring was developed for the care home following the outcome of a complaint into claims 80-year-old Norma Smith of Ness was malnourished when she died.

Her family said she lost six stones within in a few months though the care home say the figure was 3.4 stone.

Ban on admissions to care home is removed

17 April 2015

Issues with other residents arose last month. For the past four weeks operator HC-One voluntarily stopped accepting any new admissions.

The manageress at the facility also resigned, it is understood.

Now social work chiefs say the residents they were concerned over are “no longer deemed to be adults at risk of harm.”

Iain Macaulay, Western Isles Chief Social Work Officer, said: “We have received positive feedback from NHS Western Isles and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar staff involved in this investigation.

“HC-One have worked closely and constructively with us during this whole process and we are pleased with the steps that they have taken to address our initial concerns.

“As a result, we are now fully satisfied that the terms of the investigation, under the Adult Support and Protection legislation, no longer apply and that the large scale investigation has now been concluded.”

He added: “Individual reviews will continue as part of the normal process monitoring and reviewing process.”

The family of Norma Smith said they were pleased issues have improved.

Relative Murdo Maclean said “I think it is good news for the residents and their families that this situation has been resolved and that the council are now satisfied that the residents are no longer at risk.

“I'm sure the council will now ensure their monitoring is more frequent and thorough and that they will endeavour to identify any issues at a much earlier stage.

“A more pro-active approach will be much more reassuring for the residents and their families.”