Elderly residents had medicines ‘mixed up’ and were left waiting for help at care home

A care home has been placed in special measures after inspectors found elderly residents were left waiting for help, were not showered regularly and had their medicines ‘mixed up’. Lyndhurst Residential Care Home, in Middleton, has been downrated to ‘inadequate’ and hit with a warning notice following a five-day visit by the Care Quality Commission. The watchdog ordered the Manchester Old Road home to improve in 2019, but when inspectors returned in August this year, they found standards had deteriorated and it was in breach of several care regulations. The home, run by Atlantis Medicare Limited, has appointed a new manager and says it has now ‘greatly improved the service’ and this will be reflected in the next inspection.

It could be closed down if it fails to make ‘significant improvements’ over the next six months. A newly published report records a catalogue of serious failings - from the safe management of medicines, to fire safety and infection prevention. READ MORE : Care bosses insist £150K hub revamp will provide 'value for money services'

People were said to be at risk of harm because of failures to identify and address safety concerns. The report adds: “The home did not have a safe process to check what medicine a person should be taking when they came to the home. Not having an accurate record increases the risk of medicine errors.”

Medicines were not always stored safely or securely. Inspectors ‘found missing high risk medicines and the home could not explain where they were’.

One relative told officials: "There have been issues with medicine going missing and they have administered medication incorrectly at least once,” while another added: “They keep getting the medicines mixed up." The report