Leeds: Ashcroft House care home in special measures after choking death

The home in Bramhope provides care for up to 32 people

A care home has been put in special measures after a resident's death from choking highlighted safety failings.

Ashcroft House in Leeds was rated inadequate after an inspection prompted by the death and another resident being injured by a falling wardrobe.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said people were living in a "dangerous" environment and it was investigating to see if there should be further action.

The BBC has contacted Ashcroft House for a response.

The home, which provides care for up to 32 residents, had previously been rated as requires improvement but was dropped to inadequate after inspectors visited in January and February.

The CQC said information shared about the two incidents involving the residents "indicated concerns around the management of choking risks and environmental risks".

Sheila Grant, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: "When we inspected Ashcroft House we were deeply concerned to find people's care wasn't always tailored to meet their individual needs or manage serious risks to their safety.

"There was no choking care planning in place for people at risk or people who had experienced choking episodes. We were not assured staff had the knowledge and understanding to protect people from this risk.

"We found that even after somebody had died after choking, leaders hadn't arranged for people at risk of choking to have their care plans reviewed and updated.

"They only did this after our inspectors told them to do so."

'Scalding radiators'

Inspectors found people were "living in an environment that was poorly maintained and dangerous".

Examples included "scalding radiators" being left uncovered despite warnings given in the past and wardrobes had not been secured properly to people's walls "even after someone was injured by one falling".

"Despite this incident, we found that wardrobes... were not affixed to the wall securely and were only attached with one screw in a bracket that required three screws," the report said.

Inspectors also found staff did not always seek people's preferences of consent for their care, "which risks violating their human rights."

Ms Grant added: "And while we saw some individual staff were caring, people told us staff didn't always treat them kindly or respect their privacy."

Other issues raised included residents' medications not always being "managed safely" and how some people had gone days without receiving what they had been prescribed.

Ms Grant said: "We've told leaders at Ashcroft House to take urgent action on the issues we found and we'll be monitoring this service closely to ensure people are kept safe in future.

"We've also taken further enforcement action and will report on this when we're legally able to do so."