A DAMNING inspection report has revealed that residents at a care home are at risk of harm from infection and malnutrition, and that staff are “stretched to breaking point”.

The Care Quality Commission visited Beech Tree Care Home, in Sprents Lane, Overton in December and in a report published this month found the service to be unsafe and graded all areas as “inadequate”.

The report said: “People were at risk of harm from infections caused by unclean surroundings, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom areas.”

The home, run by Leyton Healthcare, provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 60 people. There were 31 residents when inspectors visited.

They found there was not enough staff and that some people were at risk of receiving “unsafe or inappropriate care”.

The report said: “People were not always supported to eat and drink enough to meet their needs which meant they were at risk of malnutrition.”

The CQC reported that:

  • People’s “end of life wishes” were not always recorded or acted upon and there were not enough “meaningful activities”
  • Staff had not received appropriate training and supervision to ensure people were safe
  • Staff felt unable to raise concerns to management or the provider without “fear of recriminations”
  • Relatives had stopped complaining because previous concerns had not been addressed
  • Leadership within the home was “weak” and relatives told inspectors they were concerned about the lack of cleaning staff and “constant unpleasant odours”. One person said: “I don’t like it here. It smells.”

An agency nurse added: “I have real concerns about hygiene. There is no hand gel and I worry about the general standards of cleanliness.”

Staff said there were not enough cleaners to change bedding and turn mattresses frequently, while inspectors found a bath in the communal bathroom and a toilet seat had not been cleaned.

In the kitchenette used to prepare breakfast, the sink was found to be “stained and unclean, with dirty dishcloths left on the side. The work surface used for preparing breakfasts was frequently left unclean.”

In the main kitchen, equipment was unclean and a large rubbish bin was open and full.

Food in the fridge had not been properly covered or dated, and an agency chef described the kitchen as “disgusting”.

The findings were reported to the local authority environmental health department.

CQC inspectors said: “The poor standards of cleanliness in the kitchen placed people at risk of acquiring infections.”

Inspectors found soiled clothing was not being washed at the right temperature to ensure effective decontamination and that staff had not completed appropriate infection control training.

One relative said staff were “wonderful” but “run ragged”.

The report added: “They said their relative frequently had to wait too long for support to use the toilet. This often caused them great distress”.

A member of staff described their working day as being “stretched to breaking point”.

Inspectors found people were given their medicines at the right time, in a safe way.

However, pharmaceutical waste, including medicines, was not being stored and disposed of correctly.

The deputy manager immediately took action to rectify this.

The CQC has taken enforcement action and asked the provider to make various improvements by March 31.

Leyton Healthcare failed to respond to a request to comment.