Wiltshire nursing home warned about care standards
A nursing home in Wiltshire has been issued with a formal warning to make urgent improvements to its standards of care.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an unannounced inspection at Ridgeway House in Wootton Bassett in August.
Inspectors said that Ridgeway House was “failing to plan and deliver effective care for people who live at the home.”
The trust that runs the nursing home has issued its own counter-complaint claiming the report was not balanced.
Ridgeway House which is run by the Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) cares for elderly people, with some suffering from dementia.
CQC inspectors said the nursing home was not ensuring that the welfare of such vulnerable people was being fully considered.
‘At risk’
Ian Biggs, regional director of the CQC in the South West said: “Ridgeway House has not been following all the relevant guidance about meeting people’s care and treatment and this has meant that frail people could be put at risk.
“This warning sends a clear and public message that the Orders of St John Care Trust needs to address this issue as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.
In response, an OSJCT spokesman said the Trust was “extremely disappointed” that the CQC decided to issue a warning notice regarding Ridgeway House, and claims there were “fundamental errors and a lack of balance” in the report.
‘Formal complaint’
He added: “We recognise that the Care Quality Commission has an important and difficult job as the lead regulator for health and social care.
“However, our shared objective of continuously improving standards of care will not be furthered unless the Care Quality Commission abides by its own guidelines on warning notices by acting proportionately, consistently and with a focus on the actual outcomes for people using the service.
“We shall, therefore, be making a formal complaint to the Care Quality Commission regarding its handling of this matter.”
A meeting between both parties to discuss the matter is scheduled for later this week.
