Cornwall nursing home fails to meet CQC standards

On Friday 13th May 2011 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) told the owners of a nursing home at Falmouth in Cornwall that they must take immediate action to improve standards of care – or face enforcement action.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found that King Charles Court in Falmouth was failing to meet four of the essential standards of quality and safety. They have subsequently published a report on their website, which fully identifies their concerns with; levels of staffing, the care and welfare of residents, nutrition, and the condition of the premises.

The CQC has told the provider, King Charles Court Ltd, to produce plans to show how it intends to achieve compliance. By law, providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety.

The key areas of concern highlighted are:

Staffing: There are not enough suitably qualified people employed to meet the needs of people at the home. Inspectors said that people's care needs were not being fully met, with late delivery of personal care in the mornings, health care needs not met, call bells not answered and limited assistance with fluids and meals.

Care and welfare of people who use services: Residents did not always receive the care that they need. People who use the service were at risk due to inconsistencies in care planning, and their healthcare needs were not consistently met and addressed.

Meeting nutritional needs: People who use the service who cannot help themselves to their food and fluids, did not receive adequate nutrition or fluid. Inspectors observed that people were not being given assistance to eat or drink.

Safety and suitability of premises: While residents were generally safe, there were risks to their wellbeing.

Bernadette Hanney, acting Regional Director of CQC in the South West, said: "It is clear that the standard of care provided by King Charles Court has been falling far short of standards people should be able to expect.

“The law says these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect when they receive care. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant – or face the consequences.

“Our inspectors will return to King Charles Court in the near future and if we find that the home is not making progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers on behalf of the people who live there.

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