Meppershall Care home in Bedfordshire shut to new admissions

A care home in Bedfordshire where a 100-year-old woman died after a fall has been closed to new admissions.

May Ward died of multiple injuries after staff tried to hoist her out of bed at Meppershall Care Home in 2010.

Central Bedfordshire Council made the decision after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC said the home's standards fell well below what residents deserved and the law required. The home owners said a new manager had now been appointed.

The commission carried out an unannounced inspection of the home in May and found 11 breaches of care and welfare.

Inspectors identified concerns with the care, safety and welfare of the 70 residents, many of whom have dementia.

The CQC found that there was a shortage of experienced and qualified staff on duty when the inspectors went in.

Central Bedfordshire Council said it had raised concerns about the home's ability to improve care quality on a number of occasions.

It had now taken the decision to stop all new admissions from 1 July.

In a statement the home's owners GA Projects said a new manager had been appointed and was working hard to improve standards.