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ELDERLY residents living in a nursing home in Malvern are left on the toilet for up to 15 minutes a time and are in bed for more than 17 hours a day according to an official report.

These were just some of the findings on Mowbray Nursing Home in Victoria Road in a review by the Commision for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The home received a poor' rating, or no stars, the lowest possible out of a three-star system.

Staff also admitted to inspectors that "incontinence pads were not being changed frequently enough to ensure hygiene and dignity issues were being promoted and addressed."

The report, released on Wednesday, also noted that one person was not diagnosed as being diabetic and another, recently bereaved resident, having gone through major surgery, was assessed as having "no anxieties."

CSCI has received seven complaints about the service.

Mowbray, which has 39 places, is run by the Harrow-based Minster Care Group. It has been without a manager for the past seven months and many of the problems revolve around staffing levels.

"A large percentage of time was spent talking to all grades of staff, which confirmed that they felt devalued and were working under severe pressure to try and care for the residents to the best of their ability with the current staffing level," the report added.

One of the main results of this was that "residents are being put back to bed at 7pm and not being got up until 12.30pm the following day."

Another outcome was that "Staff stated that nails are not being cared for properly and they could not always offer a total immersion bath or a shower." Buzzers were also left unanswered.

Quality of life was criticised in that staff commented that it "was always the same residents who went out on visits - thereby confirming that many residents were not included within social, recreational and occupational activities. This has a direct and negative impact on quality of life."

On a more optimistic note the report added: "Staff were observed being polite to the residents, and knocking doors before entering. Comments received from some residents were that they felt that the staff were very caring and did their best."

Minster Care Group failed to respond to the Malvern Gazette's calls for a comment on the report by the time of going to press.

A total of 31 care and nursing homes within a five-mile radius were assessed. Three of these - Perrins House, Hastings, and Evendine scored three stars and were described as excellent. Thirteen had two stars, which is good, and four were given an adequate rating of one star.

The remaining ten, including Gold Hill Residential Home, also run by Minster Care Group, have not yet been rated.

8:28am Friday 9th May 2008

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