Nursing home shut down after patients put at 'serious risk'

A nursing home has been closed after its elderly residents were judged to be at "serious risk", the Commission for Social Care Inspection said.

The CSCI has obtained a court order to cancel the registration of Southfield Care Homes, in Bridge Street, Brackley, meaning the home cannot legally carry on operating.

The commission successfully applied for the order from Northamptonshire Magistrates' Court on Friday after three unannounced inspections of the privately owned and managed home.

Inspectors were concerned about the low number of staff available and their ability to meet the needs - including medication management - of people living there.

The registered provider of the home has the right of appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal but pending the outcome of an appeal, the home cannot legally remain open.

The CSCI said it was working closely with Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust. The council and the PCT are assessing each of the residents to ensure their health and care needs are addressed while looking for alternative accommodation for them.

CSCI's regional director for the east Norwyn Cole said: "We have had concerns for some time about the poor standards of care at Southfield.

"Despite being given every opportunity, the owner has failed to make the improvements necessary to meet national standards and to provide adequately for the needs of the residents.

"Matters came to a head last week when our inspectors decided that the safety and welfare of the people living there was being put at serious risk.

"We could not allow this to continue, and that is why we sought the urgent order to cancel the registration of the home immediately, under Section 20 of the Care Standards Act 2000."