DETECTIVES are probing four deaths and four further separate complaints related to quality of care in a nursing home that has been criticised for its "horrendous" standards.
Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are carrying out a joint initial investigation into the deaths at Pentland Hill Care Home in Edinburgh.
The Care Inspectorate confirmed yesterday it is also looking at the four separate complaints about quality of care which are unrelated to the police inquiry.
It was revealed in August that police are investigating the death of a 67-year-old resident at the Bupa-run home the previous month.
A damning report by the standards watchdog also led to the suspension of new admissions to the home. Inspectors raised "serious concerns" about the quality of care there following a significant number of complaints in the last year.
They carried out an unannounced review in July after upholding three complaints from families of residents in the past year.
Inspectors found problems with the quality of care and with the management of the home in Gylemuir Road.
They issued a formal improvement notice and the step was taken to halt new admissions to the home.
That suspension will remain until the inspectorate is satisfied that the quality of care has improved.
In the latest statement on the care home, a Police Scotland spokesman said the force was carrying out a joint initial investigation in relation to four deaths with the HSE.
He added: "In addition the Care Inspectorate is also investigating four complaints that are not related to the Police Scotland and HSE inquiries."
Scottish Labour's health spokesman Neil Findlay MSP said: "The last inspection report on this care home was horrendous.
"Now we find out that the police are investigating four deaths and a number of related complaints.
"This is a very serious situation, people need to feel confident that their elderly loved ones are being properly cared for when they enter such homes and there are very serious questions to be answered here.
The Care Inspectorate had given the home a September 18 deadline to improve conditions.
These included putting in a system to ensure that medication is administered as prescribed, that staff set up a different system of food, fluid and nutritional care and develop workers' training.
A spokesman said: "Every person is entitled to high-quality care which reflects their needs and promotes their rights.
"We are continuing to support this care home to make the urgent changes we set out in our improvement notice.
"We are now assessing the extent to which these requirements have been met.
"At all times, the health, safety and well-being of the residents is our top priority, and we continue to work closely with other agencies."
Vivienne Birch, director of partnerships at Bupa Care Services, said: "We always report any issues, however rare, to the police and relevant authorities and, as in these cases, we actively support their investigations.
"The home had reported all injuries and admissions to hospital to the Care Inspectorate and social services."
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