At the Royal Courts of Justice, The First-Tier Tribunal has upheld the Care Quality Commission’s bid to close a care service. Enfield based, Lime Trees Residential Care Home Limited, failed in its bid to stop the CQC from cancelling its registration.
The Tribunal heard that the residential care home In The Limes Avenue, Enfield, had not provided the standard of care that people should expect.
The court heard a catalogue of poor care from previous inspections, including:
- Residents left in their rooms with soiled incontinence pads, urine-soaked mattresses, and a fresh pillowcase being put on a still-wet pillow.
- A strong smell of urine and, in some cases, faeces on the premises.
- Failure to assess the risk and prevent the spread of infection by keeping the place clean.
- Failure to prevent abusive and degrading treatment.
- Use of a walk-in shower that, when the door was left open for staff to assist when required, exposed naked occupants to view by other residents.
- Failure to keep records of assessments of capacity to assess if residents had capacity to consent to their care.
- Failure to maintain adequate staff recruitment and training records.
First-tier Tribunal Judge, Graham Sinclair, ruled earlier this month that the appeal be dismissed and the CQC’s decision to cancel the appellant’s registration as a care provider dated 9 July 2018 be confirmed.
Alison Murray, CQC’s Head of Adult Social Care Inspection in London, said: “People in residential care homes have a right to expect a good quality of care. Sadly, this was not the case at Lime Trees Residential Care Home.
“CQC inspectors observed poor standards of care and eventually we were obliged to cancel the provider’s registration. The provider appealed, but now the courts have ruled in CQC’s favour, ensuring there can be no more sub-standard care at Lime Trees.”
Ends
For media enquiries, contact Ray Cooling, Regional Engagement Manager (London), on 020 7448 9136 or call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here www.cqc.org.uk/media. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters).
For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.