A failing nursing home has been closed down.

Avon Lea nursing home on Dorchester Road in Weymouth was rated ‘inadequate’ in an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this month.

The nursing home, run by Avon Lea Weymouth 2015 Limited, was put into special measures but after improvements were not made, Dorset County Council chose to close its doors.

The service is registered to provide accommodation and residential or nursing care for up to 40 older people.

Numerous inspections at the nursing home throughout the year have seen its rating drop from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘inadequate’.

In a recently-published report, CQC inspectors found that infection control was not always managed effectively and this put people at risk of cross infection, and a person with dementia received “inconsistent communication” from staff when they were experiencing distress.

Another report highlighted that people did not reliably receive their medicines as prescribed and inspectors found there had been “errors in stock control” that had led to people not receiving medicines and the use of prescribed creams was not consistent.

Dorset County Council’s chief executive, Debbie Ward, said: “Following a number of concerns being raised at Avon Lea nursing home and the subsequent ‘inadequate’ CQC rating, an action plan for improvements was set out, agreed and monitored. However, as the provider did not successfully make all the improvements required, the county council made the difficult decision to cease contracting with the home. 

“Dorset County Council, Dorset CCG and Dorset HealthCare worked together to make sure the residents were safe and properly cared for. 

Dorset Echo:

Dorset County Council’s chief executive Debbie Ward

She added: “All residents at Avon Lea have now moved and are settled into their new homes.”

A family member of a former home resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the nursing home had been “wonderful” to her dad over the past three years.

She said: “It’s so sad for all these elderly residents who have lost their home and have to start again, when they should be being cared for with true respect.”

Deborah Ivanova, deputy chief inspector of adult social care in CQC’s south region added: “It is important that the people who lived at Avon Lea nursing home can rely on getting the high quality care which everyone is entitled to.

“Inspectors visited the service in May 2017 and found this service was failing to provide the level of care people should be able to expect. 

“We subsequently rated the home ‘inadequate’ and placed the service in to special measures.

“Due to concerns inspectors have recently returned to the service to check if significant improvements had been made. We have shared our initial findings with Dorset County Council and the Dorset CCG.

“The CQC report from our unannounced October inspection will be published in due course.

“We believe that people using the service are entitled to receive safe, effective and high-quality care that meets their needs. Our priority will always be the safety of people using health and social care services.”

The Echo attempted to contact Avon Lea Limited without success.