Kenton Hall care home death investigated by police

The care home was inspected the day before the woman died

The death of an elderly woman in a nursing home is being investigated by police.

The 82-year-old died at the Kenton Hall Nursing Home in Newcastle on 11 March, Northumbria Police said.

The home's owner, Solehawk, said a member of staff was suspended after it was found its procedures had not been followed.

An inspection the previous day gave the home a "good" safety rating but said it required improvement overall.

Solehawk said they are confident the woman's death is an isolated incident and all relevant information has been passed to the police.

"In the days following the sad death of a resident in March, the team at the care home discovered, through our normal checks, that our internal procedures had not been followed on one occasion," a spokesperson said.

"The appropriate authorities were quickly informed and we suspended a member of staff."

The home houses up to 60 residents, some of whom have dementia, and provides care for both private and local authority-funded residents.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors gave it a "good" safety rating but overall said it required improvement.

The CQC's website said it was carrying out a review of quality at the home. The BBC understands this has now concluded and the home has been given a "good" rating.