A HEREFORD care home has been shut down with immediate effect after serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of residents were raised.

Abbey Grange Nursing Home, on Venns Lane, was forced to close suddenly after healthcare watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) took legal action last Thursday.

The drastic resort is taken only in the most serious of cases and came after several months of attempts from the CQC and Herefordshire Council to try and help drive through improvement in services.

Inspectors from the CQC visited the home in February when the leadership was rated inadequate and all other areas – safety, effectiveness, caring and responsiveness – were said to require improvement.

The damning report, issued following the inspection, outlined a number of issues, stating that people living at the home, some of whom were living with conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, were not always protected from harm or abuse.

Staff told inspectors there was a ‘blame culture’ at the home which meant they were reluctant to report incidents or concerns to the provider, who had not informed the CQC of incidents and accidents affecting people living at the home.

Some of the language used in records about people’s care was not always respectful, the CQC highlighted, and included phrases about people ‘defying’ staff and being ‘attention seeking’.

Although residents reported that staffing levels were sufficient in terms of response time, others said there were not enough employees to enable them to go out when they wanted, with one person stating ‘it’s like being in jail’.

In a statement, the CQC said it took ‘urgent action’ to protect the safety and wellbeing of people using Abbey Grange as a result of serious concerns about the service being provided at the home.

“The home is now closed and we have been working very closely with Herefordshire Council with regard to the welfare of those using the service and their future care,” it said.

“CQC takes this kind of action only in the most serious of cases.”

Another issue highlighted in the report included a case where one resident left the home unaccompanied one evening and went missing.

However, this had not been treated as a matter of concern and the only information about the incident was in the person’s notes, which were brief and stated that staff had noticed the person went missing and was later brought back by a member of the public.

It also stated:

  • Although group activities happened throughout the week, these always took place in the afternoons which meant people were sitting in the main lounge area from breakfast time until 2pm.
  • Referrals were made to a range of healthcare professionals but medical guidance and recommendations were not always followed.

However, people received their medicines safely and as prescribed and enjoyed positive and caring relationships with staff.

The Hereford Times contacted the registered manager of the home, Bissessur Ubhee, but he declined to comment.

Martin Samuels, director for adults and wellbeing, added: “The council appreciates that moving residents between care homes can be unsettling and apologises for any inconvenience.

“However, the ongoing safety and care needs of residents is of paramount importance.”