Care home where three died in one night rated good

Following three deaths in October 2024, Gainsborough Care Home reopened in January

A care home where three residents died in one night has been rated good after a recent inspection.

An 86-year-old woman and two men, aged 74 and 91, died at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage, Dorset, on 23 October 2024.

Fifty residents were also evacuated amid initial fears that carbon monoxide poisoning had caused the deaths.

Dorset Police ended the investigation after finding the woman and the 74-year-old man had died of natural causes, adding the death of the other man would be the subject of inquest proceedings.

The care home reopened in January after no safety issues posing a risk to people were found.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment between 21 May and 12 June said 21 people were using the service during its inspection.

"People were cared for safely and learning was taken from accidents and incidents and used to minimise future risks," the report reads.

"Referrals were made to external agencies such as safeguarding and to healthcare professionals."

It said some areas of medicine administration "needed to be improved; however we found no evidence of impact on people as a result of this".

The report goes on to say the provider had compiled care plans for people and had ensured they had been "supported to achieve good outcomes".

"We saw mostly kind and caring interactions between staff and people," it said.

Once spotted, other concerns such as food items in people's clothing alongside underwear, hairbrushes and creams were "immediately addressed".

Four residents told the inspectors about the support they had received and were complimentary about staff.

Three family members also told them they had been "satisfied their relatives were safe".