Care home warned to improve standards

Watchdog body the Care Quality Commission has issued a formal warning to Michael and Anita Berry, of Hillbro nursing home in Holden Lane, Baildon, near Bradford.

The warning follows an unannounced visit by inspectors on February 29 to check if improvements required after a previous visit had been made.

On the latest inspection CQC found the care home was still failing to meet government standards.

Inspectors saw staff using unsuitable lifting techniques that could cause an injury.

Inspectors were concerned that residents requiring help to eat were not always given adequate support.

Individual care plans did not always contain appropriate risk assessments and accident records had not been completed accurately.

Jo Dent, regional director of CQC, said: “The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.

“This warning sends a clear and public message that Mr and Mrs Berry need to address this issue as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.

“Our inspectors will return to Hillbro nursing home in the near future and if we find that the provider is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there.”

In a statement, Hillbro said: “Inspectors re-visited the home on March 27. Their report will be publicly available in due course; they acknowledged that matters have been addressed and we are now fully compliant.

“They thanked us for working co-operatively with them and we reassured them of our commitment to providing continuing high standards.”