7 June 2013
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has warned the owner of Larchwood Nursing and Residential Home they must make improvements to comply with the national standards of quality and safety.
During an unannounced inspection at the home, in Yarmouth Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, the provider was found to be failing to meet four of the national standards of care and safety assessed.
Providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting all national standards of quality and safety.
When inspectors visited the home on 29 April, they found the care provided was falling short of the standards people should be able to expect and improvements were needed.
As a result CQC issued warnings to the home demanding it made improvements relating to the care and welfare of people who use services and the management of medicines.
What inspectors found
Care and welfare of people who use services
Inspectors looked at care records for two residents who were sight and hearing impaired. They found that no assessments had been carried out to see how the people could be supported regarding their impairments.
It was noted that call bells were not within easy reach of resident’s beds. This meant that people were not able to summon assistance in the event of an emergency.
In addition, during a tour of the premises, inspectors found a half full container of used sharps on a bedside table in an empty room. The door was left open meaning this would have been accessible to anybody and posed a risk to people's safety and welfare.
Management of medicines
When looking at medication records, inspectors found errors, gaps and discrepancies between the amount of stock recorded and the amount available at the home. This meant it could not be assured that people were receiving their medicines as prescribed.
Records also showed that some incorrect doses of anticoagulant warfarin had been administered, as well as other medicines being prescribed irregularly and not in line with instructions.
Andrea Gordon, Regional Director (regions) for CQC, said: “The repeated failings at Larchwood Nursing and Residential Home are a real concern and immediate improvements need to be made.
“CQC has been working closely with the local authority to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people receiving care at Larchwood Nursing and Residential Home and we have told the provider where they must improve.
“Our inspectors will return in the near future and if we find the required progress is not made we won’t hesitate to take further action where necessary.”
Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.
Larchwood Nursing and Residential Home provides nursing and personal support to a maximum of 48 people.
Ends
For further information please contact Helen Gildersleeve, regional communications officer, on 0191 2333379 or the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.
Notes to editors
About the CQC: Snippet for press releases
About the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.
We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.
Find out more
Read the reports from our checks on standards at Larchwood Nursing and Residential Home.