Warning for care home which left elderly 'unwashed and undressed' (From News Shopper)

Warning for Forest Hill care home which left elderly 'unwashed and undressed'

1:59pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Mark Chandler

A CARE home which left elderly residents unwashed and undressed until after lunch must make immediate improvements, inspectors say.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued a formal warning to Premiere Care Southern to urgently improve care at Hamilton lodge in Honor Oak Road, Forest Hill.

It follows an unannounced inspection at the nursing home in November.

Inspectors said personal care was carried out late, and a large number of people at the home were not washed and dressed until the afternoon.

As a result, they also found that, while social activities were arranged in the home, these did not always happen.

Deputy director of CQC Matthew Trainer said: “Our inspectors will return in the near future to carry out another unannounced inspection.

“If we find that the home is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there."

A spokeswoman for the home blamed the inspection result on low staffing levels, which she said had since been addressed.

She said: “In relation to the safety concerns, the CQC inspection found that certain electrical checks needed to be carried out, and following a service the lift was awaiting new parts that needed to be fitted.

“All safety issues have been addressed and we are confident that any further inspection carried out by CQC shall meet all relevant requirements for both welfare and safety.”