Medicine given 'three days late' at Oldbury care home

Newbury Manor in Oldbury has been told it 'requires improvement' following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

The report found that 'medicine errors were not always identified' and the service 'was not always safe.'

In one instance a person was given medicine 'three days late.'

Another saw one saw a resident on 'high risk' medication be given the wrong dose – but this had not been identified or reported.

Medicines that needed to be stored in a fridge were not always stored at the correct temperature needed. Both fridges at the home stored insulin, a sensitive medicine, but the wrong temperature could have meant there would be a risk to people's diabetes, which could not be effectively controlled.

An earlier inspection by the commission in November 2014 also found improvements were needed regarding medicine safety.

And inspectors found after their latest visit in January that improvements were still required as the systems in place 'did not ensure the proper and safe management of medicines.'

In total the report marked the care home against five points, which is typical in every CQC inspection report, and inspectors graded two areas as 'requiring improvement.'

The effectiveness, care and responsive of the home's services were all rated as 'good.'

Asking 'is the service effective?', inspectors noted that 'people and their relatives felt that the service provided was good and effective.'

For the service's care, inspector's said 'people's dignity, privacy and independence were promoted and maintained.'

And when asking 'is the service responsive?', inspectors said 'people and their relatives felt that the service provided did meet their family member's needs.'

But what 'required improvement' were safety and leadership.

An inspector said: "The service was not always well-led.

"The quality monitoring systems failed to ensure that shortfalls relating to medicine management had been addressed.

"The service was not always safe.

"The medicine systems in place did not ensure the proper and safe management of medicines."

The nursing home did not meet 'Regulation 12 HSCA RA Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment.'

Diane Williams, who is the registered manager of Newbury Manor in Oldbury, said: "We are currently having discussions with the Care Quality Commission because we are disputing the outcome."