STAFF at a Castlemilk care home have been suspended after reportedly locking frail pensioners in their rooms.
A spokeswoman for Torbrae Care Home on Bogany Terrace, said that the members of staff had switched off infrared sensors, which detect if someone has got out of bed so that the carer can assist them. They are used to help ensure people with Alzheimers do not hurt themselves.
They had also apparently locked them in their rooms. It is understood the four female members of staff were caught after a surprise inspection following a damning report of the facility by the Care Inspectorate in June.
A spokesperson for the home said: These practices are totally unacceptable. As a responsible provider dedicated to gold standards of safeguarding, we have tough internal procedures and as a result have suspended four members of staff. A rigorous internal investigation is underway and external agencies are satisfied we are handling the matter correctly.
We are working closely with the regulator and are utilising the feedback to deliver an action plan, which is already in progress. Throughout this process we are keeping residents families fully informed.
In June this year the care home had a complaint upheld regarding its general health and welfare by the Care Inspectorate and a communication complaint partially upheld.
An Age Scotland spokesman said: This is very worrying - these are crimes against older people, and we hope the people responsible are taken to task. If there had been a fire there the consequences could have been devastating. The Care Inspectorate has recently beefed up its inspection regime, and its encouraging that they are following up poor inspection reports with spot check visits.
