Luton care home closed due to CQC safety concerns
A care home in Luton, Bedfordshire, has been closed down by its owners after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reportedly claimed it was unsafe for residents.
The Griffin Care Centre has now been emptied of its 57 residents by owners Southern Cross, who received a warning from the CQC previously. The public body expressed concern over the standards of training for care staff at the nursing home, particularly with regards to how the medication was administered.
In one particular example, the CQC alleged that its pharmacy inspector discovered that two medications were being administered together, despite the information on the medication’s label and the home’s administration sheet stating otherwise.
Frances Carey, regional director at CQC, commented on this, saying:
“It is a significant concern that during a visit to the home on the morning of 10 January 2011 that CQC had to take direct action to prevent trained staff from administrating these medications at the same time.”
Southern Cross has admitted that the CQC visit did highlight concerns over the way medication was dispensed at the home and apologised for the concern this may have caused residents and their families. The former residents of the Griffin Care Centre have now found alternative accommodation suitable to their needs.