Care home warned it could close as CQC reveals 'serious risk of harm'

A CARE home looking after people with dementia has been placed in special measures to protect its patients.

- by OLIVIER VERGNAULT

The management of the Restgarth Care Home has been ordered to improve it or see it shut down.

Care watchdog the CQC said one patient was left sitting in the dining room from breakfast until 6pm - nine hours - without support.

Another, at risk of weight loss, went without breakfast for six days.

The home in Polperro was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September and in their report the inspectors rated its performance in key areas - whether it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led - as inadequate.

In the wake of the report the CQC has imposed urgent conditions on the home's registration.

These require its management to make immediate improvements to patients’ safety and to update the CQC every month with information on how risks are being reduced.

The conditions also prevent the home from admitting new residents, or readmitting former ones, without the CQC's permission.

The watchdog said the urgent action was needed to protect the 32 residents, some of whom were living with dementia.

It also placed the care home into special measures, which involves close monitoring to ensure people are safe while improvements are being undertaken.