Nursing home shut down after inspectors struck by ‘overpowering smell of urine’

Merok Park care home in Surrey, which had passed an inspection in January, was shut on Tuesday after inspectors found it was “dirty” and had an “overpowering” smell of urine, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

The CQC team found residents being washed in cold water and not being helped to eat, and discovered a lift had been broken for several weeks, leaving some patients unable to get downstairs. Inspectors also found the home was understaffed, with workers who had not received “relevant training” working up to 60 hours a week, with some having had no criminal record checks, the CQC added.

Adrian Hughes, the CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care in the south, said: “We have taken urgent action 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.

“CQC does not take enforcement action lightly given the obvious impact on people who live in nursing and residential care homes, but in this case we – and other agencies locally – felt that the home was unsafe.”

Merok Park is run by Soondressen and Maleenee Cooppen, according to the CQC website, which also lists them as running the Faygate House care home in Sutton in London. A spokeswoman for the couple said they were unavailable to comment.

The latest inspection was carried out between November 28 and December 1. The home, which had room for 29 patients, passed an inspection in January, carried out after the CQC raised “concerns” in September last year.

That inspection found that residents were “generally satisfied” and praised staff but said the home “did not have suitable arrangements in place for obtaining consent for people who lacked capacity” and “had not always taken steps to provide care in a home that was adequately maintained in all areas”.

Mr Hughes said the CQC had made Mr and Mrs Cooppen aware of its concerns some time ago but “action has not been taken to maintain the safety and welfare of people”.