A care home has been judged inadequate after inspectors found one resident's mattress was wet through with urine.

Eastern Daily Press: Stradbroke court residential home, Lowestoft.Stradbroke court residential home, Lowestoft. (Image: Archant © 2011)

The two examples of issues were highlighted at Lowestoft's Stradbroke Court in the latest report by regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The report, published on Monday, July 10, assessed the facility on its ability to perform in five different categories - safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

Inspectors however, reported the home - run by Aps Care Ltd - not always effective, caring or responsive, but it said staff were generally caring in their approach.

Residents who spoke to inspectors said staff members were 'caring and treated them respect', with another saying 'they are charming, all of them, really lovely to me.'

Eastern Daily Press: Stradbroke court residential home, Lowestoft.Stradbroke court residential home, Lowestoft. (Image: Archant © 2011)

One section of the report referred to a person with incontinence who was 'found with a mattress and duvet that was wet through'.

Records showed they had 'not received any personal care or checks during the hours of 4.45am and 10am, despite two hourly checks being in place'.

And mattresses were also found to be ripped and stained, whilst residents who required a softer diet had been given foods that could 'put them at serious risk of choking'.

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Furthermore, several areas in the service 'were not hygienic' including in some of the kitchens where there was a 'risk of the growth of bacteria'.

And, due to being rated inadequate overall, Stradbroke Court was placed under special measures.

This means the service will be kept under regular review while improvements are made.

The commission's rules say they should expect to see improvements within six months.

Concerns were initially raised in December 2016, when an unannounced inspection of the accommodation identified four breaches of the 2008 Health and Social Care Act.

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Seven months down the line, inspectors concluded 'significant improvements to address previous shortfalls had not been made', as well as finding new issues which caused them concern.

In the latest round of inspections, Burlingham House, in Norwich - also run by Aps Care Ltd - was rated as requires improvement.

Reaction from Stradbroke Court care manager

Stradbroke Court care manager Dawn Bunter said the home had made improvements since the CQC inspection.

She said that the content of the report had come as a disappointment, emphasising that necessary action had been taken to make changes.

She said: 'Stradbroke Court has made significant improvements since the last inspection.

'We are working alongside a consultancy firm to make sure improved care is implemented and we have made regular contact with regulators.

'After the next inspection we will be able to pinpoint the specific improvements that have been made.'

According to the CQC the home will remain under review and will be inspected again within six months.

The expectation is that providers found to have been providing inadequate care should have been able to make significant improvements within this timeframe.

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