Ashgill care home at centre of physical abuse investigation

Mar 11 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

FOUR workers at a county care home have been suspended pending an abuse investigation.

One nurse and three care assistants have been told not to turn up for work at Hilton Gardens Care Home in Ashgill, near Larkhall.

The move came after reports of alleged physical abuse of elderly patients.

This week, owner William Welsh confirmed his employees’ suspension.

He also confirmed that an internal probe has been launched with the help of South Lanarkshire Council’s social work department.

The investigation will be carried out as details of the alleged abuse emerged in the national press last week.

It was alleged that members of staff physically assaulted residents, forced them to take cold showers and eat food from bins.

However, Mr Welsh, who runs the 62-bed facility, claimed this week that some reports had focused on “hearsay.”

He said: “There is nothing else we can say about the allegations at the moment.

“We are currently dealing with the Care Commission and also working with the local authority’s social services.

“I can confirm there is an investigation underway, but at the moment that’s all it is. There is nothing hard and fast I can say about it just now.

“I can confirm, however, that four members of staff have been suspended.”

A spokesman for the Care Commission said this week that they will wait for the outcome of the internal investigation.

He said: “We have been notified of the situation at Hilton Gardens.

“We are aware that there is an investigation being carried out by the service and that as the lead agency the local authority social work service are aware and involved.

“The Care Commission is in close contact with both the service and the local authority and will continue to closely monitor the service at this time.

“We will await the result of this investigation before deciding if action is required by the Care Commission as the regulator.”

A council spokesman added: “Social Work Resources have liaised with the management of the care home, who are undertaking an investigation into the situation.

“Findings from the investigation will be shared with Social Work Resources and the Care Commission.

“In the meantime, Social Work Resources continues to monitor the wellbeing of residents in the home.”