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A care home in the Hampshire town of Hythe was issued with a formal warning by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after inspectors visited the property and found a problem with emergency call equipment.

CQC inspectors visiting the West Cliff Hall care home found that the emergency call bell system, with which residents can summon help if they are ill, injured or in distress, was faulty. This left residents in danger of not receiving the right support and care from staff.

A formal warning was issued by the care watchdog, prompting the home to fix the problem immediately or face further action. Balcombe Care Homes, which runs West Cliff Hall, has now confirmed that it has made the urgent improvements required by the CQC. A statement on the company’s website reads:

“Balcombe Care Homes was issued with a formal warning because on the day of the inspection the call bell system was not operating properly.
“All necessary measures were put in place to safeguard residents from potential harm.”

In care environments, the upkeep of equipment is just as important as providing staff with the appropriate care training.