ALLEGATIONS that residents at a nursing home were not being properly cared for have been rejected.

Inspectors who visited the Wrexham Care Centre in Nant-y-Gaer Road, Llay, found there was no evidence to back the claims which had been made to the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).

The home is registered for 35 people over 65 with dementia or mental infirmity and there were 18 residents when the unannounced inspection was carried out in March.

In their newly-published report the CIW inspectors, who were accompanied by a nurse from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, say the inspection was carried out in response to concerns raised that staff “did not ensure the health, safety and welfare of people living in the service”.

“Specific examples were provided and we did not find evidence to support the allegations,” says the report.

It had been alleged that staff failed to provide basic personal care, that residents had lost weight and that appropriate health advice had not been sought in a timely manner, resulting in a deterioration in residents’ health.

“Records viewed and the physical examinations of residents’ skin, carried out by the nurse reviewer, found these allegations to be unfounded but we did find areas where improvements could be made,” said the inspectors.

They found evidence that all residents were weighed monthly, or more frequently if needed, and that there had been no significant weight loss.

“Overall, the diet provided for the residents was appropriate and there was no evidence to indicate weight loss,” says the report.

“The care records should be clear, concise and up to date, and charts should be evaluated to demonstrate the support provided for people to remain healthy.”

The inspectors called for further improvements in staff training to meet legal requirements, but did not issue a non-compliance notice because the home owners were taking action to rectify the situation, and since the inspection CIW has received details of a new induction training programme.

Among the improvements listed is one to review the deployment of staff on a regular basis and when residents’ needs change “to ensure health, safety and welfare is managed appropriately”.