AN OVERTON care home where residents were at risk of harm could have its registration cancelled.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Beech Tree Care Home, in Sprents Lane, was graded as “inadequate” in every area inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A damning report, published last month, found the home to be unsafe and said residents were at risk of harm from infection and malnutrition.

The Gazette also spoke to the daughter of a man who died at the home last year, who said much of the content of the report covered concerns she had already raised in April last year.

Diane Harris told The Gazette that she found her 91-year-old father, Eric Fisher, lying “flat on his back in a urine soaked bed”.

Now, Adrian Hughes, deputy chief inspector of adult social care at the CQC, has said the watchdog could take further enforcement action at Beech Tree.

He added: “We will inspect again and if we do not see that improvement has been made we will take further enforcement action which could include proposing to cancel the registration of the provider.”

The home was inspected in response to concerns which were raised with the CQC.

Mr Hughes said: “The inspection was undertaken using our new approach which asks five key questions. Is the service caring? Is the service safe? Is the service responsive? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?”

He added: “Our judgement against the five key questions and the service overall rated the service at Beech Tree Care Home as inadequate. The rating signals to the provider that action is required or enforcement action will be taken.”

Hampshire County Council failed to respond in time for last week’s story on Beech Tree Care Home. The care home also did not respond to The Gazette.

But the council has since provided a statement on the home, which reads: “We are very sorry to hear that Mrs Harris was unhappy with the care her father received at the privately run Beech Tree Care Home. Concerns raised with us about private care homes are always investigated and we take action in accordance with our safeguarding duties.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of those being cared for, and we will involve other agencies with the care home owners, such as the CQC, to ensure residents’ wellbeing is assured.

“We work with the CQC while a home is being investigated, and with individual residents and their families to ensure they are well looked after while improvements are made.

“While we cannot comment on individual matters, we would encourage Mrs Harris to follow up with our social care team, who would be happy to talk to her, to discuss any outstanding issues she feels remain about the care of her father.”

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