Takeover agreed for crisis-hit nursing home

Frail and elderly residents were set to be relocated from Clifton Nursing Home, in part, over failures in its management of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the nursing home’s owners, Runwood Homes, have now confirmed that agreement has been reached for a takeover in management by a company known as Healthcare Ireland.

The decision to move elderly residents out of the home was announced on Friday by the Health Minister Robin Swann, just one day after an inspection by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).

The RQIA had carried out a number of previous inspections of the 100-bed Clifton Nursing Home and, on May 20, the health watchdog issued a ‘failure to comply’ notice over “the robustness of infection prevention and control practices”.

On May 21 another inspection was carried out and the following day, the decision to relocate residents was announced by Robin Swann.

The minister said: “Given the current situation facing care homes with Covid-19, decisive action is essential.”

Runwood Homes, in a statement to the News Letter today, confirmed that a takeover in management by Healthcare Ireland had been agreed.

“Whilst it was disconcerting that the HSCT were unwilling to continue supporting the team at Clifton Nursing Home, and work in partnership to implement the required improvements highlighted during the latest inspection in the middle of a pandemic, we are pleased that an agreement has been reached with our friends at Healthcare Ireland Group to receive management of the service,” a company spokesperson said.

“The home, unfortunately, experienced concerning, increasing numbers of staff sickness due to the pandemic, further accentuated by external agency and Trust staff unwilling to work due to the national threat of the virus’ transmission rate, and therefore, the level of the service was impacted, greatly affecting the home’s ability to fully function to the expected standards of the Group and learnings have been made.

“We are contented with this positive decision enabling the residents to remain in their current, familiar living environment, with the same staff, ensuring continuity of care, which should remain a priority following the departure of our management.

“We’d like to thank the positive staff team at the home for their ongoing commitment in their crucial roles and wish them all the very best in their careers under a new provider and thank the Trusts for their continued partnership to ensure good quality, person-centred care in our remaining Northern Ireland services.”

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