THE chairman of East Lothian’s health and social care partnership has called for a “culture of excellence” to be expected throughout care services in the county.

Peter Murray was speaking after a report on care homes and services in the county was presented to East Lothian Integration Joint Board.

The report revealed that one care home was currently undergoing close monitoring after its grades from the Care Inspectorate fell below adequates and only one home was graded with the highest number 6 – which translates as excellent.

In total the board was told 70 per cent of the county’s care homes were graded level four or above, which is deemed ‘good’, while 24 per cent were graded a 3, which is described as adequate.

Fidra House Nursing Home in North Berwick saw its grades slump to 2, which equates to weak, in three of its four performance categories.

Randolph Hill Nursing Homes, which runs Fidra House, said it had been working “intensively” since the start of the year to address issues raised by the Care Inspectorate following an unannounced visit in December.

It said it expected a follow up visit by the inspectors to report improvements.

Out of 17 care homes reported on to the board, only one – Hilton Lodge, Haddington – was awarded grade 6 in all four of its performance standards.

Board member Margaret McKay asked if it was not possible for homes that were not doing so well to look to Hilton Lodge and see if they could learn lessons.

She said: “What are they doing which the other homes are not doing so well?”

Mr Murray said that all care homes and care services should be expected to provide excellent care and rate at the highest level.

He said: “We should encourage a culture of excellence and anticipate that level of care is provided all the time.”

The board heard care at home services were required to meet a grade 3 (adequate) rating before they were used, with incentives offered to encourage them to meet grade four (good) standards.