Coronavirus: NHS to buy Skye covid outbreak care home

A privately-run care home where 10 residents died during a Covid-19 outbreak is to be taken over by NHS Highland.

The health board has received government funding of £900,000 to buy Home Farm in Portree from HC-One.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed the purchase as newly-published inspection reports revealed concerns about care at the home in May.

They included reports that residents were lying in urine and faeces.

A total of 30 residents and 29 staff tested positive for Covid-19 during the outbreak.

The transfer of the care home to NHS Highland is due to take effect from November. The health board said staff would transfer into its employment "with improved terms and conditions".

HC-One said the move was in the best interests of residents, their families and staff.

Earlier this year the Care Inspectorate took legal action to have HC-One removed as the main provider of care to residents following an unannounced inspection of the home that raised "serious concerns" about the quality of care.

The action was dropped last month following improvements in care.

The Care Inspectorate reports, which have just been published, said inspectors were told most staff at Home Farm were kind and helpful, but there were concerns some people were not being treated with respect.

Doors were left open while residents received personal care, food was left round the mouths of others after eating and one person who was upset was described as "attention seeking".

Inspectors were also told some people did not receive the right support to eat and drink well.

During the Covid-19 outbreak the monitoring of some residents' weight was stopped and a number of people lost weight.

Some residents were also reported to have been lying in urine and faeces, including occasions when the urine and faeces had dried, posing health risks.

The Care Inspectorate has welcomed the takeover of the home.

A spokesman said: "It is important to stress that we have seen evidence that the quality of care experienced by residents at Home Farm has improved in recent months.

"We understand this has been a distressing time for those living and working in the home, their loved ones and the wider community.

"We have worked closely with the care provider, the health and social care partnership and the NHS to ensure residents at Home Farm experienced the significant improvements in their care which we identified as being required."

HC-One's John Kirk said: "We are very grateful for the collaborative and constructive working relationship we have had with NHS Highland over recent months, and for the dedication and commitment of our local colleagues who have worked tirelessly to make sure the home provides the right quality care.

"We are confident Home Farm is now in a strong position to build on this recent work and it will have a bright future ahead of it under NHS Highland's leadership."

During the Scottish government's daily briefing on Covid-19, Ms Freeman was asked if HC-One would make a profit on the sale.

The health secretary said she did not know if this would be the case. She added that she was pleased that NHS Highland was purchasing the home.

HC-One said it had not benefited from the sale.