Portsmouth care home stays in special measures after failure to make improvements

Bluewater Nursing Home, in Portsmouth, was rated inadequate in December last year by the Care Quality Commission and a follow-up inspection in June showed a number of safety breaches were still being made.

The inspector found there were not enough staff for the number of residents living in the home and they were not always treated with dignity.

They also found a legal requirement to ensure safe and effective administration of medicines had not been completed and an untrained member of staff had been giving insulin to a diabetic resident.

The report, published this month, said: ‘This inspection found that there was not enough improvement to take the provider out of special measures.

‘There was not always sufficient care staff available to meet the needs of people and ensure their safety and welfare.

‘They did not have time to spend interacting with people in a way which encouraged them to be independent and calm.’

On their visit, the inspector witnessed a member of staff telling someone who needed the toilet they would get help soon but not to worry if they did not make the toilet as they had a pad on.

The report said this person ‘did not receive care and support in a way which demonstrated a respect for their needs.’

But the report added: ‘Staff knew people well and visitors told us they were always very courteous.’

Of the five criteria looked at by the CQC to see if the care home, on Kingston Road, was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, four were found inadequate with the caring category rated as requires improvement.

The care home did not respond when contacted by The News for a comment.