Legionella bacteria found in care home water - council suspends new placements

In a statement released by the care home and published by theYorkshire Evening Post, Jane Stone, the registered home manager, assured both residents and relatives that “all precautions have been taken” and that an “extremely effective, robust plan” was in place.  She stressed that no one at the home had presented any symptoms of the disease but that management were "constantly monitoring" residents.

The home had informed organisations including the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Leeds City Council, Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group and Public Health England.

“The water system is being chemically treated and samples regularly taken in line with our action plan and risk assessment and all boiler temperatures have been adjusted,” Ms Stone said.

"All test results are showing the disinfection is working and that the bacteria is clearing from the system.

"We are open and transparent with all our test results, which we share with all statutory bodies."

Donisthorpe, - “a care home with an Orthodox Jewish ethos” - has had a series of critical reports from the CQC. At the home’s last inspection, the results of which were published in October 2018, the CQC rated it as requiring improvement overall and in three of the five inspection categories. Previous inspections graded Donisthorpe as inadequate, leading it to be placed in special measures.

At the time of the last inspection, the care home was registered to provide accommodation and nursing for a maximum of 189 people. It then housed 70 residents and the CQC reported: "The registered manager told us they were going to change their registration from 189 to 90."