Finney House Care Home: Preston care home still requires improvement after risk of harm from paracetamol overdose

A Preston care home, previously placed in special measures, is now under the ‘requires improvement’ microscope.
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Finney House Care Home on Flintoff Way was rated as requiring improvement overall after a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection carried out in June found evidence of paracetamol being administered without a four-hour gap on many occasions to several people.

Though rated as good in the effective, caring and responsive categories, the care home fell short in the safe and well-led areas.

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In the safe aspect – the health watchdog looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

Finney House in Preston has been rated requires improvement by the CQCFinney House in Preston has been rated requires improvement by the CQC
Finney House in Preston has been rated requires improvement by the CQC

At the last inspection in October 2021 this question was rated as inadequate and had now improved to requires improvement, meaning some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety.

At the last inspection medicines were not effectively managed, including maintaining adequate stocks and following best practice guidance. This was a breach of Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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The report read: “At this inspection, not enough improvement had been made and the provider was still in breach of Regulation 12.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and social care services in EnglandThe Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and social care services in England
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and social care services in England
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“Whilst the provider made some improvements to people's medicines and errors had reduced, we found medicines were not always given safely in line with best practice guidance. We saw evidence of paracetamol being administered without a four-hour gap on many occasions to several people. This meant there was a risk of harm from paracetamol overdose.” Records also showed that people who required medicines at a specific time did not always receive their medicines at the times recommended so there was a risk they might have experienced symptoms of their medical condition.

“Medicines administration records were not always fully completed to demonstrate whether they had been offered and taken as prescribed and staff did not always record when they added thickener powder to people's food or drinks and could not be sure they were given drinks of the correct consistency.

“Records of topical administration of creams/ointments were not always completed as prescribed, so we could not be sure this was done safely.

“Improvements had been made to medicines storage. However, medicines requiring refrigeration were not stored safely.

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“There was a risk that medicines would not be effective as the temperature had dropped below the manufacturers recommended storage temperature. However, the manager took immediate action to address this.”

In addition, guides to administer 'when required' medicines were not seen for every record checked. The manager had audited the system; however, some records had been missed.

Systems had not been adequately established to ensure the safe use of medicines. This placed people at risk of harm.

The report published last week also found that in the well-led area the care home had improved from inadequate to requires improvement.

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The nursing home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 96 adults.

There were 41 people living at the service at the time of the inspection. Some of the people lived with mental health needs, dementia and required support with their physical needs.

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