GPs called to care home over neglect fears

Holmewood Residential Care Home was rated inadequate across all five areas

Doctors were called to examine four people at a care home after inspectors feared they were suffering from neglect.

People living at Holmewood Residential Care Home in Cockermouth, Cumbria, were found to be at "significant risk of harm" when Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited in August 2023.

The home was rated inadequate and its operator, Lakeland Care Services, warned it could be removed if improvements are not made.

The administrator for the company acknowledged "some shortfalls" but "strongly disputes" many of the CQC's findings.

Karen Knapton, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: “We found incredibly serious safety concerns that leaders were unaware of, and they must urgently address these to prevent people from being harmed.

"It was concerning to see that people’s health conditions and end of life care wasn’t being managed properly.

"We had to request a GP visit for four people during the inspection, as staff were unaware people needed urgent help, which is unacceptable."

'People at risk'

Inspectors found a broken staircase that had not been secured and equipment left lying around.

They also found equipment was not being used safely, including staff not securing people's feet in wheelchairs correctly.

Ms Knapton added: "In addition, the home was often understaffed which put people at risk of not having their needs met.

"We saw people's call bells or requests for help not being responded to in a timely way which caused distress and put people at risk of harm."

The report also said people did not always receive their medicines as prescribed.

Holmewood was rated inadequate in all five areas covered by the inspection, which began on 20 July and ended on 16 August 2023, meaning it has been placed in special measures.

The CQC said it will reinspect the home within six months and if enough improvements have not been made it will "begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service".

'Misleading' report

Churchlake Holdings Limited, the parent company of Lakeland Care, entered administration in 2022.

Holmewood remains open and is being overseen by administrators Kroll Advisory and Cornerstone Care Solutions.

Phil Dakin, joint administrator at Kroll, said: “We acknowledge there were some shortfalls with regards to the state of the home at the time of the inspection, however we feel strongly that the details in this report are misleading and we have raised this directly with CQC.

"The report contains a number of inaccuracies and fails to highlight much of the positive evidence provided about the care given to the residents.

“We take any allegations of inadequate service very seriously and feel that we have sufficiently addressed the relevant concerns raised by the regulator.

"We are extremely disappointed that CQC has not sought to engage directly with us further, formally acknowledge our complaints or come out to re-inspect the services.

"The inspection took place in July last year, further evidencing the inefficacy of the regulator in dealing with matters as serious as this.”