At a specially-arranged press conference this afternoon, Cornwall Council has reacted to what it calls ’shocking’ and ’utterly unacceptable’ behaviour in two Cornish care homes, including one in Callington.

The council’s care chief issued an apology for behaviour set to be revealed in an episode of BBC’s Panorama to be screened on Monday (November 21).

And he confirmed an investigation into standards in Cornwall has been extended to homes in Par and Lostwithiel.

The homes investigated by Panorama are Clinton House in St Austell and St Theresa’s in Callington, both of which are run by the Morleigh Group. 

In a statement today, Trevor Doughty, Cornwall Council’s Strategic Director for Children, Families and Adults, said  ’Let me start by saying this clearly: residents of care homes, and their relatives, have a right to expect that they are safe, that they are well looked after, and that they are treated at all times with dignity and respect. 

’We are informed that the programme will highlight very serious and specific concerns about the care offered. We haven’t yet seen any footage that will be shown on Monday night, but the programme makers have cooperated in describing what they observed to us, and answered most of our questions to aid our investigation. 

’Let me say without mincing my words: I am sorry.  

’I am sorry that the standard of care provided by Morleigh Group has fallen far short of what residents, their relatives and the general public have a right to expect.

’There have been ongoing quality and safeguarding concerns about the homes within this group over some time. It’s the Care Quality Commission’s job to license private homes to operate, to inspect them, and to rate them, and they have done their job repeatedly inspecting Morleigh Group homes over recent years. 

’We’re waiting to hear now the results of the latest CQC inspections into these homes, and will respond as appropriate, including, of course, in discussion with residents and their relatives.

’I am sorry that while the council and our partners have made considerable efforts and indeed secured improvements, as reflected in the subsequent Care Quality Commission inspection ratings, these improvements have not been sustained, and we now find ourselves where we are today. 

’The Care Quality Commission rating system underpins our preparedness to place people in care homes.  We will sometimes have to use care homes with a ‘requires improvement’ CQC rating as is common across the country.  We would never make placements in care homes rated ‘inadequate’.

’When Panorama reported these incidents to us on October 26 we immediately met with NHS, Police and Care Quality Commission colleagues, formally began our ‘Organisational Abuse’ investigation, visited the proprietors, suspended new admissions, and provided extra nurses and other staff into those homes to keep people safe – all on October 26.  On October 27 we visited both homes.

’We have now concluded our investigation into Clinton House, and found that the concerns raised with us in writing by Panorama were, in large part, upheld.

’We at the Council and at NHS Kernow therefore decided to move our residents out of Clinton House. 

’I can confirm that we have also extended our investigation into other nursing homes in the Morleigh Group – Elmsleigh in Par and Collamere in Lostwithiel – and those investigations are proceeding at pace, and should also be complete within days.  Where required each home has extra nursing and care staff in place in the meantime, so people should be assured about the safety of the residents whilst these investigations continue.

’We’ll all be watching the programme on Monday when it is broadcast, and if anything fresh comes to our attention as a result, which wasn’t covered in what we were told by Panorama in writing, of course we will act on that immediately too.  

’Once all residents are safeguarded to our standards, as good practice, we will review how we worked with this company so that any lessons can be learnt.

’I should like to reassure everybody in Cornwall, especially anyone who is in any other privately-run care home, or who has relatives or friends in a care home.  The privately run care homes in Cornwall generally do a good job, often an excellent job, and the people who work in them genuinely care.  Notwithstanding what has been uncovered in these shocking, isolated instances, let me say thank you to everyone who works so hard caring elsewhere.

’The CQC’s inspection results for all Cornwall care homes bear this out – only about half the proportion in Cornwall receive the CQC ‘requires improvement’ rating compared to the rest of the country, 14% here compared to 27% nationally.  Not a single other care home in Cornwall currently has the bottom CQC inspection rating of ‘Inadequate’.

’What has been uncovered in these two homes is exceptional, is shocking, and is utterly unacceptable, but it is the opposite of most people’s experiences in the hundreds of well-run private care homes in Cornwall.

’We are, however, issuing a hotline number of 01872 224210 that anyone in Cornwall can phone to speak to someone if they have any concerns.’

’The health, well-being and dignity of residents absolutely comes first; we are shocked and saddened at the incidents reported by Panorama, and are very sorry that this has happened in these privately run homes.  On behalf of everybody who dedicates their careers to keeping people safe, and seeing them treated with dignity and respect, I am sorry for what has happened in these homes.’

Mr Doughty also issued an appeal to the media on behalf of residents to avoid intrusion. The Morleigh Group has said staff involved in scenes reported to be in the Panorama film have been removed. It has said it will comment further after the programme is screened on Monday.