BUPA care home residents deprived of food

Donnington Residential and Nursing Home slammed in Care Quality Commission report

A PRIVATE Newbury care home deprived some its its residents and left them open to risk of infection, a damning report has revealed.

Filthy conditions at the BUPA-run Donnington Residential and Nursing Home left residents at risk of infection, according to the report.

Watchdog body the Care Quality Commission (CQC) swooped unannounced after staff members raised concerns about the care.

Inspectors found one resident left lying in a urine-soaked bed because staff were “too busy” to tend them and another had only eaten one slice of bread all day.

The report goes on: “Inspectors further found that the provider was failing to provide suitable and nutritious food and hydration, in sufficient quantities to meet service users' needs and was not supporting residents to eat and drink sufficient amounts for their needs. Inspectors saw a chart in a person's room which recorded that they had not eaten, or had a drink since 8.45am that day when they had eaten just one slice of bread and butter.” The inspection took place between 6 and 10pm.

“Inspectors also found that residents were not protected from the risk of infection, and that there was a failure to maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene. Parts of the home, particularly the toilets and bathrooms, were highly malodorous. Inspectors found that toilets were dirty and had not been cleaned, and tooth mugs were covered in scale and dirty and several were positioned on the toilet cistern.”

The inspection, on July 5, was “to follow up concerns which CQC had said must be addressed at the time of a previous inspection,” according to the report.

The home, which is owned by BUPA, is registered to provide care with nursing for up to 45 older people and publicly boasts on its website: “A warm and welcoming care home, fully equipped to meet all the needs of our residents.”

CQC spokesman Robert Williams said: “We expect significant improvements. Failing that, sanctions can be imposed, up to and including closure.”

South east director for the CQC, Roxy Boyce, warned: “Our inspectors will return to the home shortly and if we find that the provider is not making the required progress we won't hesitate to use our legal powers on behalf of the people who live there."

BUPA Care Homes regional director Mark Elliot said: “We were extremely concerned by the results of the inspection and have apologised to those residents, and their families, whose care was not as we expect.

“We immediately took action including bringing in a support management team and retraining staff. We are working closely with the local council who have commented positively on our progress.”