11 CARE HOMES
"Providers of a care home service shall, having regard to the size of the service, the statement of aims and objectives and the number and needs of the service user provide such other equipment for the general use of service users as is suitable and sufficient having regard to their health and personal care needs" The Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulation 2002 40 |
129. There is inconsistency across Scotland over the range of equipment provided to, and provided by, care homes. In general terms, care homes need to have suitable and adequate equipment in place to meet residents' needs. Equipment for providing 'personal care' as defined in Section 2(28) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 41 will be provided by the care home. This may include prescribed items such as medication and aids to manage feeding, respiration, incontinence and skin care. Care homes are also expected to provide standard items such as wheelchairs for general mobility, commodes, standard beds and toileting and bathing aids.
130. This guidance lays out some guiding principles to responsibilities in equipment provision in relation to care homes.
- Care home residents do not lose their rights to access NHS services.
- Where someone has been in hospital and the provision of equipment can support early discharge this equipment must be loaned, with urgency, free of charge up to a period of four weeks.
- Where the provision of equipment can prevent admission to an acute hospital setting then that equipment must be loaned with urgency free of charge for a period of up to four weeks.
- Staff must be appropriately trained in the use, cleaning and maintenance of equipment as set out in The Health and Safety Executive and MHRA regulations.
- Repair and maintenance responsibility remains with the equipment provider.
- Care home staff should have equal access to training in equipment handling.
- Where 'care management' has been delegated to the care home, care home staff must have access to equipment stores.
131. NB Work has been on-going in two local authority areas in agreeing general and specific descriptors. This work will be piloted in those two areas during the period of consultation and the final guidance will take account of the results.
CARE HOMES - KEY RECOMMENDATIONS |
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1. Where equipment can support early discharge from hospital it must be loaned, with urgency, free of charge for a period of up to four weeks. 2. Where the provision of equipment can prevent admission to an acute hospital setting it must be loaned, with urgency, free of charge for a period of up to four weeks. 3. Staff must be appropriately trained in the use, cleaning and maintenance of equipment as set out in H&S and MHRA regulations. |