So what does this all mean for the residents. Well yesterday and today are just examples, but illustrates what the affects are. This morning when I arrived in Colin's room at 9:30 he had still not had breakfast and was getting quite fractious - he was hungry but he couldn't remember if he had been fed! So I ended up giving him breakfast. When I got back after having my lunch at about 1:30, Colin was stilll in bed and again hungry as he had still not had his lunch. He is supposed to be lifted into his chair for meals, especially lunch and supper. Wary that this problem has not been caused by the care staff, and they were at the end of their tethers, I did try to track down someone in charge. But instead I was fobbed off by the admin staff! Finally the carers did get Colin out of bed, into his chair and I gave him his lunch, which by now had started to congeal in the hot cabinet, at about 2pm. Yesterday, like other afternoons, the care staff were having difficulty getting around all the residents to check and provide their personal care. This meant that supper, which is meant to be served around 5:30 was late, and consequently preparing for bed was late, etc., etc. The interval between receiving personal care gets longer, which then could affect health and wellbeing.
The carers are not happy, some are leaving and most say they cannot provide an appropriate level of care with the current staffing levels. Some have been very upset and in tears. And yes, I have taken my concerns to the Manager, but I fear I shall be a lone voice, as most of the residents have few family visitors to be their advocate.
And, why am I saying all this here - well it might just be that families of future residents may be looking around for evidence of good care. I would say to take the reports on the CQC site with a pinch of salt. The Management here were very careful not to changing staffing levels until the recent CQC inspection was well out of the way. I shall say no more.
Jane.