Newport care home's residents moved after 'failings'

Fairview House was taken over by Oakray Care in August

Twenty-two elderly residents at a care home on the Isle of Wight have been re-homed after "serious failings" led it to it receiving a closure notice.

Inspectors reported finding unclean conditions and poor management of medicines at Fairview House in Newport.

Isle of Wight Council said all residents had now been moved following "a fast-moving situation and a rapid decline in standards".

Home operator Oakray Care said it "unreservedly apologised".

Following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection on 30 November, the privately-run home was banned from admitting new residents and issued with a closure notice, which it has the right to appeal against.

The council drafted in staff to provide care while alternative accommodation was found.

Adult social services director Carol Tozer said: "The urgency to move residents meant that we did have to hand deliver letters on Friday night and Saturday morning to relatives' home addresses notifying them of the situation.

"All residents have now moved out of Fairview and we will be checking up on their welfare very regularly over these next few weeks."

Oakray Care, which also operates care homes in Cowes and Sandown, said it was sorry to those affected.

A statement said: "We unreservedly apologise... We are accountable for the wellbeing of all our residents and we have failed in the providing the care that they deserve.

"Our culture and values clearly haven't manifested themselves in the way we envisaged and certainly isn't reflective of the standards we have within our other homes.

"As providers, we sincerely apologise and also acknowledge the distress caused to our staff.

"We will continue to work closely with all the regulatory authorities in an open and transparent manner, to ensure we never compromise our high standards again."

It took over the running of Fairview House in August.