A WHISTLEBLOWER was sacked hours after raising serious concerns about a care home that was closed down weeks later, a tribunal has heard.

Private care giant Bupa is accused of unfairly dismissing Middlesbrough nurse Lee McLaughlin, who raised safeguarding concerns about Eston's Hillview Care Home, which was closed last August following investigations that uncovered a catalogue of failings.

It had previously been temporarily banned from taking in new residents following disturbing findings outlined in reports from the Care Quality Commission.

The tribunal, held at Teesside Magistrates Court, heard that Mr McLaughlin - employed as a clinical service manager in February 2017 - made several allegations concerning the health and safety of vulnerable residents.

At the time of his dismissal in June 2017, 17 safeguarding issues were being looked into, several staff suspensions were implemented and "more than one" investigation was underway into conditions at the home.

The tribunal heard of a number of issues reportedly flagged up by Mr McLaughlin, who accused the home's manager at the time - Anthony Atkinson - of disregarding staff worries and “scrumpling up” and discarding a safeguarding report submitted by a healthcare assistant after a resident almost fell out of a sling that was inappropriate for his weight.

Mr McLaughlin also raised concerns after discovering gaps in medicinal audits and upon finding that another resident had been left on the toilet for three hours.

He criticised an admissions process that saw Mr Atkinson admit a vulnerable man – ‘GB’ – against his advice, despite the home not being equipped to care for him and Mr Atkinson not being qualified to carry out nursing assessments.

GB’s condition deteriorated rapidly and he died days after being admitted to the home, with Bupa’s head of professional standards Aileen Waton telling the tribunal that staff had failed in their duty to him.

Mr McLaughlin was dismissed hours after he voiced concerns during an unannounced CQC visit.

He was told he had failed probation for a number of reasons, including telling the CQC that he had not been aware of GB being admitted against his advice earlier that day.

It was said that he had not conducted medical audits and daily “walk arounds” adequately and, as senior clinician at the home, it was suggested that he could have therefore contributed to its systematic failings.

Ms Woton said a number of the problems uncovered would have been within Mr McLaughlin's remit to act upon and claimed he had not made formal disclosures.

She denied that any attempts were made to cover up issues at the home and said no other whistleblowers had been dismissed.

She said: "There was no hiding from this.

"We had numerous suspensions, 17 safeguarding alerts and were liaising daily with the local authority and CCG."

Mr McLaughlin, who claims he was not aware of being on probation, was not given the opportunity to appeal his dismissal and was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council four months after his dismissal, with the NMC later finding he had no case to answer.

The tribunal continues later this week.