Under-fire care home banned from taking new patients after 'further concerns' raised

Bolton Council and the local Clinical Commissioning Group have placed a temporary ban on sending patients to the Four Seasons Care Home in Breightmet after “further concerns” were raised following a recent visit by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Both bodies are now "undertaking reviews" of residents and said they were helping the home to address the concerns.

It is understood the recent concerns relate to the administering of medicines and the leadership and management of the home.

The home has apologised to residents and said immediate action was being taken with a new leadership team being drafted in to address the issues.

The CQC inspection report is currently being compiled and due to be published in the coming weeks.

The last report published in September found that the home was in need of improvement in all areas and a report published last May labelling it as inadequate.

September's report found some gaps in the recording of medicines and some areas of where prescriptions had not been used as directed.

Liz Whyte, managing director at HC-One, which manages the home, said: "We are deeply sorry the home has failed to meet the high standards residents and their families expect and deserve.

"We work hard to provide quality care and we have failed to do so at this home.

"We have struggled to recruit high-calibre leadership and senior clinical team to provide strong management at the home.

"Despite extensive recruitment programmes, we have been reliant on temporary agency nurses.

“We understand the frustrations of residents and their relatives that positive progress has been too slow, and that when we have made improvements in the past, we have failed to maintain them.

“We are taking this situation extremely seriously and have mobilised senior staff and available resources from across the organisation to implement a robust and comprehensive action plan.

“New senior leadership is now in place at the home.

“We are very grateful for the support and additional resources provided by Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, and the CQC.

"We are working around the clock to get things right and make sure we swiftly address the challenges facing the home.

“We will continue to keep residents and their relatives updated on our progress."

Both Bolton Council and the CCG refused to say what their concerns with the home were.

A spokesman for the CQC said the organisation would not comment until publication of its report.

A council spokesman said: “It is disappointing and concerning that standards of care at Four Seasons have once again fallen below what we would expect.

"We appreciate that this must be a worrying time for residents and their families but we have arranged immediate support to ensure residents are not at risk and we are keeping them informed of the situation.

"We are working closely with the home, Care Quality Commission, NHS Bolton CCG to ensure rapid improvements are made.”

Mary Moore, chief nurse at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group is currently monitoring the safety and quality of care at the home very closely.

"We are working together with Bolton Council and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, the local provider of community based services, to provide the nursing and operational support required to keep residents safe."