A HAMPSHIRE care home has been branded “inadequate” after an inspection by a health watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission has told management at Chandler's Ford Christian Nursing Home they need to make urgent improvements after finding a number of problems during a visit earlier this year.

Among the failings discovered at the HC One run-home were:

  • Staff leaving patients undressed after rushing off to answer other calls
  • Storing prescription medicine the care home's hair salon
  • Failure to keep accurate and detailed shift records

According to the report the home in Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford, is failing to provide safe and effective care, is not well led and is not responding to people's needs well enough.

Other issues included not respecting residents' privacy or dignity and not involving residents in their own care plans.

Today a spokesman for the home insisted a robust action plan had been introduced to help turn the site around.

However Adrian Hughes, CQC deputy chief inspector of adult social care, warned the home should make improvements quickly and said it will be inspected again to ensure they had been implemented.

He said: “The way in which the provider operated the service failed to meet the fundamental aspects of good care that people have the right to expect - high quality, compassionate and safe.

“We found that care plans were not always updated and at times the expert input from professional not included to support staff to deliver the right care.

"The overall management of medication and in particular the storage of the medication in an unsecured area exposes people to unnecessary risk.

“Our inspection report has set out the action the provider is required to take to address the concerns we identified.

"We will inspect again and if action has not secured improvements we will have no alternative but to take further enforcement action.”

He added residents were treated with “kindness and compassion” by staff and that advice was often sought from GPs, therapists and psychiatrists around individual resident care but not always followed through.

A spokesman for the home said: “Following a CQC inspection in January we immediately put in place a robust action plan to address all points raised. This included additional management support, enhanced staff training, and a thorough review of all care plans with each person we support.

“We have openly communicated the actions we are taking with Residents and relatives, and have regularly updated all relevant agencies of the improvements we have made.

“Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety and wellbeing of those we support.”