Damning food hygiene report for care home

A Welshpool care home has been told to make a ‘major improvement' to its management of food safety after receiving a food hygiene rating of just one.

Powys County Council’s Llys Hafren was taken over by Shaw Healthcare Group Ltd along with 12 other care homes in the county earlier this year, and despite receiving a perfect five rating last year, the facility has been criticised in its latest report.

As well as highlighting its food safety management shortfall, the report states that ‘improvement was necessary’ for its hygienic food handling.

The food safety inspector does highlight that they are confident that the facility can turn things around, and rated its overall cleanliness as ‘good’.

Nevertheless, management has vowed to react to the report and Powys County Council’s Head of Commissioning (Adults and Children) Dylan Owen commented: “The health and well-being of residents is the county council’s highest priority and we have sought urgent reassurance from Shaw Health Care Group that immediate action is taken to address the issues identified in the food hygiene inspection. 

“The council’s environmental health officers have been working with the company to improve standards at the home as a matter of urgency and I understand that the group has now requested a re-inspection.”

Gavin Henderson, Head of Facilities Management at Shaw Health Care Ltd added: “The rating is disappointing and I’m confident under the new management of Shaw, with our stringent food handling and preparation guidelines we will be seeing an improvement at the next inspection. We will also be working closely with Powys Council to keep them abreast of our improvement plans.”