Police have launched a probe into a care home which was ordered to close after 15 residents died following a major outbreak of coronavirus.
Temple Court in Kettering, Northamptonshire, was forced to shut its doors following the Covid-19 related deaths of patients who were sent there after being discharged from hospital.
The home is now being investigated by police and council bosses. Officers are speaking to relatives of the 15 residents following claims they were sent there without being tested after being released from two separate hospitals.
The site, which is run by Amicura, part of the Minster care group, had to move all of its surviving residents to other homes in the week of May 11.
Police are investigating what happened at Temple Court (pictured) in Kettering, Northants, after at least 16 people died in the space of eight weeks, most of whom either had, or were suspected of having, Covid-19
It was closed after being told to do so by the local authority’s adult social care department and health authorities following concerns over the care being provided.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: ‘Northamptonshire Police is aware of the recent issues relating to Temple Court Care Home in Kettering.
‘We are working with the Safeguarding Adults Team at Northamptonshire County Council to investigate these further.’
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates care homes, carried out an inspection last month and its findings are due to be published soon.
The local authority is also carrying out an investigation under section 42 of the Care Act which happens when there are allegations of abuse or neglect.
Nationally care homes have been severely affected by the pandemic, with latest figures reporting that more than 11,000 care home deaths have been due to coronavirus.
Residents’ relatives have expressed their anger after Covid-19 swept through the care home in Kettering
Families who have lost their loved ones at Temple Court said they are demanding answers and hope the police investigation is a start to finding out what happened.
Mikhail Waskiw, from Roade, Northants, was among those who died last month having contracted coronavirus while at the home.
He was moved from Northampton General Hospital on February 28 after his family were told he had a chest infection on April 3.
He was taken into Kettering General Hospital on April 5 and died the following day.
His son Garry, 58, said recently: ‘Obviously I am a bit angry. I don’t blame the carers in the care home, but we do want to know what has happened.’
Simon Bennett, whose dad Robert was a resident, said: ‘None of the relatives seemed to have any idea that there was coronavirus in the home and there were so many deaths.’
His 80-year-old father has since been moved to another care home after Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group stepped in.
A relative of one resident told Northants Live: ‘It’s not The Ritz, but its heart is in the right place.’
One woman, who did not want to be named, said they were ‘angry and broken’ about the death of their relative, who had only gone to Temple Court for respite care.
She said the week after lockdown, when families were barred from going in, she had spoken to her father-in law on the phone.
She said: ‘His words were; ‘What about me?’ He thought he had been abandoned.
‘I said, ‘I want to get him out of there’. I called social services and they said ‘I really wouldn’t suggest him coming out at a time like this.’
‘Nobody will ever be able to comprehend not being able to see a loved one for three to four weeks before they died and not to be there at the end.
‘Three times in the last week of his life we asked for a phone call with him, but the home did not call.’
A spokesperson for Temple Court said: ‘The police are statutory members of adult safeguarding boards and it is routine practice to get in contact in cases such as this.
‘We have been given no indication so far what they are investigating, but we will cooperate fully with their enquiries.
‘Our priority has always been the wellbeing of our residents and giving them the best care possible.
‘The home was left in an extremely challenging position after a sudden influx of residents from the NHS – some of whom had very complex needs – and a subsequent outbreak of Covid-19.
‘A large number of staff, including the home manager and senior team, were absent due to the virus and we were left disproportionately reliant on the use of agency staff.
‘After becoming overwhelmed, we worked closely with NENE CCG, the local authority and Care Quality Commission (CQC) to move them to settings that were not as compromised.’
The home is currently rated as required improvement by the CQC following an inspection carried out in May 2019
It found a number of issues including a lack of risk assessments, incomplete records and management not always being aware of accidents that had happened.
A spokesperson for NHS Northamptonshire CCG and Northamptonshire County Council said: ‘As in all cases where concerns are raised about quality of care provision, our first priority is the wellbeing of residents.
‘All residents of Temple Court residential and nursing care home have now been moved to new placements elsewhere to ensure that no one is at risk, and in line with our standard practice a multi-agency investigation has begun into the issues raised.
‘With initial enquiries under way, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.’
***Do you have relatives at this care home? Email [email protected]***