Care treatment complaint upheld

The manager was accused of denying medical care

The Care Commission has upheld a complaint that at least one elderly patient was denied medical treatment by the manager of an old people's home.

Iris Hallam was cleared of forcibly detaining a pensioner at Hempriggs House, Wick.

Northern Constabulary is investigating financial allegations, which Mrs Hallam denies.

Dr Robbie Coull first raised his concerns almost a year ago, prompting the commission's investigation.

The commission upheld his complaint that Mrs Hallam denied a resident medical treatment from a doctor.

The commission declared Mrs Hallam unfit to manage and has ordered Hempriggs' owner to take action.

The number of incidents that the staff have raised brings Mrs Hallam's 'fit-person status' into question Care Commission statement

But Mrs Hallam, who was still in post on Thursday evening, rejected the findings and is taking legal advice.

Highland Council said it would not place any new clients in the home and is ensuring that existing residents are being properly treated.

Dr Coull said: "I felt there was evidence to support the allegations that medical care was being withheld from patients and that patients' GPs and district nurses were not being informed when there were problems.

Management problem

"My initial concern was that perhaps this was an attempt to hide abuse that was going on in the home.

"But there was no direct evidence of that."

Dr Coull said he believed there was a management problem at the home.

The commission upheld his complaint and concluded: "The consistency of the statements made by care workers interviewed would indicate that there are serious issues surrounding management at Hempriggs House.

"The number of incidents that the staff have raised brings Mrs Hallam's 'fit-person status' into question."

They are judge, jury and executioner Iris Hallam

The owner of Hempriggs House has been urged to take action or face being struck off the Carers' Register.

Mrs Hallam has rejected the commission's findings.

She said: "If you're accused of something by the Care Commission or whoever has told them, and they do a report and come and see you, they don't tell you exactly what you've been accused of.

"They're not clear in their own minds when they come. They get a complaint way back in July and it took them until November to come and sort it out.

'Support families'

"It took them until last week to send me a letter and several of the things have been discounted on it.

"But the other things that have been left on it, I'm not allowed to appeal against. They are judge, jury and executioner."

Highland Council's Bill Ferney said it had been monitoring what had been happening at the care home.

He said: "There are no new placements to be made at Hempriggs House.

"We will also support the families who have relatives there if they wish to consider moving their relatives.

"Until the Care Commission comes back and tells us that things are okay, that's what will remain in place."