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Police launch investigation into Aberdeenshire care home following allegations of mistreatment against elderly patients

Muirhead Care Home near Alford.
Muirhead Care Home near Alford.

A police investigation has been launched, following allegations that elderly patients have been mistreated at an Aberdeenshire care home.

The Muirhead Care Home near Alford remained open last night, but faces the prospect of being closed down after a damning inspection by the Care Inspectorate carried out in July.

A family member of one resident told the Press and Journal that her uncle had often told her he wasn’t getting enough food and claimed one of the carers often “punched him when no-one was looking”.

Alford resident Pearl Crawford said her uncle had been living at the home for three years and expressed delight on learning it was now under investigation.

Mrs Crawford added: “He has Parkinson’s, but he still has all his faculties – I think that’s why they don’t like him. He can stick up for himself.

“I have written to complain about the care he has received – he has lost so much weight.

“I’ve often left after a visit and sat in my car and sobbed – it’s just not right.”

The Care Inspectorate has now applied for an emergency cancellation of the 35-bedroomed care home’s registration, which they confirmed they would only do in “exceptional circumstances”.

They carried out a spot check last month and found “serious concerns” relating to food and nutrition and “numerous hazards”.

A Care Inspectorate spokesperson said: “The quality of care is so poor that we have applied to the sheriff court for an emergency cancellation of this care home’s registration.

“We do not take this action lightly or often, but only in exceptional circumstances where there is no alternative to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.”

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman last night confirmed that the care home remained open and added the authority had drafted in a number of staff to monitor the care delivered to residents.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s manager Iain Ramsay said: “Our teams have been working closely with the Care Inspectorate to provide support to the residents and their families.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Our inquiries are at an early stage and are ongoing.”

Last night, a spokeswoman for the care home said the current owner, Mary Lawson, had provided “quality care” since 1987, she added: “We were only made aware very recently that the quality of that care was being questioned.

“We have given an undertaking to the court that we will provide an action plan to address those issues of concern which we have been made aware of.”

Anyone with concerns should contact the Care Inspectorate on 0345 6009527, anonymously if needed.