One in five Scottish care homes unclean

 One in five older people’s care homes in Scotland had inadequate hygiene standards when inspected by the Scottish Care Commission last year, a new report reveals.

Of the 916 care homes inspected in 2003-4, 21 per cent were ordered to make improvements, while one in 10 were failing to meet hygiene, cleanliness and infection control regulations.

However, nearly four in five care homes received a clean bill of health, while more than half of those that received improvement requirements had rectified problems by the time of follow-up inspections.

Jacquie Roberts, chief executive of the Care Commission, said that, although further action was taken against some homes that failed to act on recommendations, she was “heartened” that the majority had put measures in place.