10.12.14
CQC orders immediate closure of unsafe and dirty nursing home
The CQC ordered the immediate closure of a care home in Surrey after inspectors found residents were “at significant risk of harm”.
Police officers assisted the CQC with the closure of Merok Park Nursing Home in Banstead on Tuesday after a comprehensive inspection from the care watchdog that took place on 28 November and 1 December.
Adrian Hughes, deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the south for the CQC, said: “We have taken urgent action today to remove CQC registration from Merok Park Nursing Home in Banstead, Surrey, because of concerns that the people living there are at significant risk of harm.”
Inspectors found a number of serious issues, including an “overpowering” smell of urine as well as a general dirty environment.
According to the inspection report residents were not being supported to eat, were being washed in cold water, had inappropriate beds that could cause pressure sores and several residents were trapped upstairs for weeks due to a broken lift that had not been repaired.
Some staff at the home were also found to have not had criminal records checks and were working up to 60 hours a week, while not enough were on duty and relevant training had not been given.
Hughes added: “Taking any decision which causes people to leave their homes is always difficult at any time of year – but it is our view, shared by other agencies, that it was no longer safe for people to remain in Merok Park. The level of concerns we had here were rare, and robust action was needed. The local authority and the CCG are in the process of moving people to other services, and we are continuing to monitor the situation.”
Merok Park is run by Soondressen Cooppen and his wife Maleenee, according to the CQC website, which also lists them as running the Faygate House care home in Sutton, south London. Soondressen Cooppen is also listed as the sole owner of Grantley Court Nursing Home in Sutton.
In November Cooppen was served by seven improvement notices by the Health and Safety Executive for failing to put in place arrangements to manage risks to people who use bed rails, and for not adequately controlling the risk of legionella from the hot and cold water system at Grantley Court.
The couple were unavailable for comment.
(Image: c. Ann)
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]