Care home ordered to improve for FOURTH time after watchdog finds residents 'still at risk of not receiving medicines safely'

A care home has been ordered to improve for the fourth time after a watchdog found residents were ‘still at risk of not receiving their medicines safely’. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Hillbrook Grange, in Bramhall, Stockport to check it had followed its action plan, after a previous inspection found ‘shortfalls in the safe management of medicines’.

But while officials said the home had made progress in this respect, they also noted ‘continued concerns’, adding that ‘further improvement’ was required. The Ack Lane East home says all the concerns were ‘isolated and minor’ and addressed before inspectors left the premises.

A newly published CQC report - based on the January inspection - reads: “Not enough improvement had been made at this inspection and the provider was still in breach of regulation.” It continues: "Since our last visit improvements were identified and systems had been put in place to manage medicines in a safer manner.READ MORE: Care home residents made to get up at 4.30am so over-stretched staff could get them ready for the day

“However, these systems were not always followed by staff and they were not closely monitored and audited. There were still areas of poor medicines handling which need further improvement to ensure people were not put at risk of harm.”The report adds that medicines were not always given at the correct times, meaning they may not be effective - placing 'people at at risk of experiencing the symptoms the medicines were prescribed to treat’.Inspectors also noted that written guidance was not always in place for staff when medicines were to be given ‘when required’ or with a choice of dose. The report states: “This meant staff did not have the information to tell them when