This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27761939

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Review into 'harrowing' Orchid View care home scandal Orchid View care home scandal review 'not enough'
(35 minutes later)
More than 30 recommendations have been made after a scandal-hit care home in West Sussex saw 19 unexplained deaths. A man whose mother died at a scandal-hit care home has said a serious case review has not gone far enough and the private care home sector has failed.
A serious case review found action to rectify problems was avoided at Orchid View. It also said "ineffectual action plans" were not acted on. Russell Tucker, 54, whose mother Margaret Tucker died at Orchid View, has called for government action to prevent other similar cases.
Five of the deaths at the now-closed home, which was run by Southern Cross in Copthorne, involved neglect. The West Sussex home saw 19 unexplained deaths - five cases involved neglect.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has admitted a series of failings in how it handled incidents there. The review has made 34 recommendations. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has also admitted a series of failings.
An inquest last year found that all 19 people whose deaths were unexplained had received "suboptimal" care. Orchid View, which was run by Southern Cross in Copthorne, closed in 2011.
The care home has since reopened under a new name and new management.
After the serious case review findings were published on Monday, Mr Tucker, from Oswestry, Shropshire, said: "It doesn't go far enough.
"We know the remit was tight. Useful information has come out on a local basis, but equally issues have come out that impact nationally that is outside the remit.
"Given that is the case, we think it does warrant a full public inquiry."
He added: "The government needs to step up to the mark and behave responsibly. The private sector is not the place for the care of the most vulnerable in society, and it has failed."
'Catastrophic' care standards'Catastrophic' care standards
An inquest last year found all 19 people whose deaths were unexplained had received "suboptimal" care.
Residents were left soiled and unattended, and one night shift saw staff make 28 drug errors.Residents were left soiled and unattended, and one night shift saw staff make 28 drug errors.
The five whose deaths involved neglect were Wilfred Gardner, 85, Margaret Tucker, 77, Enid Trodden, 86, John Holmes, 85, and Jean Halfpenny, 77.The five whose deaths involved neglect were Wilfred Gardner, 85, Margaret Tucker, 77, Enid Trodden, 86, John Holmes, 85, and Jean Halfpenny, 77.
Earlier, lawyers representing the families of those who died called for a complete overhaul of the care industry, and also a public and independent inquiry to find out how standards dropped to "such a catastrophic level". Earlier, lawyers representing the families of those who died called for a complete overhaul of the care industry, and a public and independent inquiry to find out how standards dropped to "such a catastrophic level".
Solicitor Laura Barlow also warned recommendations had to be delivered to prevent further widespread abuse. Solicitor Laura Barlow also said questions remained over who was ultimately accountable and added: "What is clear is that the independent sector needs to be subject to the same level of scrutiny that the NHS expects."
She said questions remained over who would drive the improvements and who was ultimately accountable and added: "What is clear is that the independent sector needs to be subject to the same level of scrutiny that the NHS expects." The serious case review, commissioned by the West Sussex Adults Safeguarding Board, made 34 recommendations.
But after the serious case review findings were published on Monday, independent chairman and report author Nick Georgiou said: "It is not possible to say that this report or any other will prevent all future safeguarding alerts. 'Ineffectual action plans'
"It will not do that, but acting on the recommendations will lessen the risk to other residents in other settings." They included that care operators must prove they can recruit and keep trained and skilled staff; relatives should always have a named point of contact; concerns should be escalated outside homes if not dealt with properly; open meetings should be held with relatives; and there should be a threshold for informing the public about significant safeguarding issues.
Independent chairman and author of the report, Nick Georgiou, wrote: "A sign of a good service is how they rectify things that go wrong.
"What happened at Orchid View was more an avoidance of positive action to rectify problems, and a series of ineffectual action plans that were not acted on."
He said he believed a public inquiry looking at the national care industry could have merit, and called for a new law of wilful neglect to provide accountability.
Following publication of the serious case review findings, the CQC issued its own report.Following publication of the serious case review findings, the CQC issued its own report.
Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care, said the primary responsibility for failings at Orchid View rested with care home staff and Southern Cross, but the CQC had looked at its own role and knew it did not fulfil its purpose of making sure the home provided safe, compassionate and high quality services. Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care, said Southern Cross and Orchid View staff were primarily responsible for failings, but the CQC had looked at its own role and knew it did not fulfil its purpose.
"The way we worked when these serious incidents happened meant we did not respond to early warning signs, we were too easily reassured by the responses of Southern Cross and the people who worked there - and we did not take appropriate enforcement action quickly or strongly enough," she said."The way we worked when these serious incidents happened meant we did not respond to early warning signs, we were too easily reassured by the responses of Southern Cross and the people who worked there - and we did not take appropriate enforcement action quickly or strongly enough," she said.
Ms Sutcliffe said work had been carried out to make the CQC more responsive to risks, to improve inspections, and appoint and train more inspectors. She said further improvements would be made. Ms Sutcliffe said action had been taken to make the CQC more responsive to risks, and to improve inspections and further improvements would be made.
'Harrowing case' Some of the recommendations were local to West Sussex, and others were applicable more widely.
The serious case review was commissioned by the West Sussex Adults Safeguarding Board.
Its 34 recommendations included that care operators must prove they can recruit and keep trained and skilled staff; relatives should always have a named point of contact; concerns should be escalated outside homes if not dealt with properly; open meetings should be held with relatives; and there should be a threshold for informing the public about significant safeguarding issues.
West Sussex councillor Peter Catchpole said: "What happened at Orchid View was harrowing.West Sussex councillor Peter Catchpole said: "What happened at Orchid View was harrowing.
"Nothing will help ease the pain of the families who were affected by these terrible events and who lost loved ones.""Nothing will help ease the pain of the families who were affected by these terrible events and who lost loved ones."
But he added: "We do believe that acting on the recommendations contained in this report will go a long way towards preventing this happening again."But he added: "We do believe that acting on the recommendations contained in this report will go a long way towards preventing this happening again."
The care home has since reopened under a new name and new management.