Highland MP expresses worries over care at home service used by his wife

An MP says the current situation with a Highland care at home service 'worries him deeply' as "serious concerns" are raised.

The Care Inspectorate have identified "significant and serious concerns" regarding NHS Highland's Care at Home Service in Sutherland.

Inspectors say significant improvements "must be made" by May 25th, and if this is not achieved they may take steps to cancel the registration of the service.

Jamie Stone, Lib Dem MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, says the thought of anything harming the service his wife uses bothers him "deeply."

NHS Highland say a Large Scale Investigation (LSI) has formally begun.

"We rely on the home care service."

Mr Stone praised the carers who look after his wife and urged the Scottish Government to step in if necessary.

He said: "My wife Laura is disabled and has been for quite a long time.

"We rely on the home care service.

"The ladies are fantastic and it makes all the difference to our lives, but the thought of anything imperilling that really bothers me very deeply.

"I think the needs of a very sparsely populated area like Sutherland are very special.

"If there's any issue or problem here then the Scottish Government should step in.

"I shall await the NHS report with great interest, but slight worry too.

"Let's hope if they need help, they say 'please help us now' and we all step forward and put our shoulder to the wheel."

A statement from the Care Inspectorate outlined how they recognise this is a "difficult and distressing time for service users, their families and staff at the service," but their priority is the "health and wellbeing of service users."

A spokesperson said: "An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by service users of Sutherland Care at Home Service in Highland.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for service users, their families and staff at the service.

“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of service users.

“Because of our concerns we have issued an Improvement Notice to the service.

"This sets out the significant improvements that must be made within a specified timeframe.

“We are in contact with and monitoring the service to follow up on the required improvements.”

Pamela Stott, NHS Highland’s Chief Officer for Adult Social Care, said: “We recognise this may cause anxiety for service users, their families and our staff.

"We have developed an action plan to ensure the recommendations outlined in the Improvement Notice are implemented as quickly as possible.

“Our formal review and responses processes take the form of an LSI which we have now formally started.

“We are contacting service users, families and staff to provide support and guidance, including a direct contact from within our local Social Work teams.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and we want to reassure the local community we are working to address these concerns as soon as we can.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care, which meets their needs and respects their rights.

“We have clear standards for the quality of care across our health and social care services and where issues are identified by the Care Inspectorate, we expect remedial action to be taken urgently by the service.

“We will remain in contact with NHS Highland and Care Inspectorate to be kept updated on the progress of this case and stand ready to provide support if needed.”