GP facing care home claims

It is claimed she broke hygiene rules, risked contamination of food and used untrained staff to cook meals for the elderly.

Wyre Council has started proceedings against Dr Varsha Gulati, who is a member of practice based in Tarleton.

The case against her was mentioned before magistrates at Blackpool who adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed.

Gulati, of Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, runs the Catterall House Care Home, Catterall, near Garstang. Mrs Gulati faces 13 allegations following an inspection of the 20-bedroom Catterall House.

The council says mouse droppings were found in the kitchen and a store-room and that pipe works leading from the kitchen sink were leaking.

There was food debris in a pool of water in the yard providing a food source for pests, it claims.

The home is further alleged to have an ill-fitting insect screen in the kitchen allowing insects to fly in.

The GP is also said to have failed to stop equipment and surfaces in the kitchen to be kept clean including a tin opener, fridge and microwave.

There was a hole in staff toilet which could allow in pests and a chipped plate was used to cover food and a dirty scoop was found in a store room used for dry foods.

The GP is alleged to have allowed untrained staff to prepare food and she is said to have breached the terms of her status as the food business operator in respect of recording cooking temperatures and the control of pests.