Manager of Pinford End House Nursing Home in Hawstead acknowledges 'difficult time' as home is deemed to requires improvement by Care Quality Commission inspectors

The manager of a nursing home which has been told it needs to improve by a watchdog has acknowledged it has been a difficult time.

Pinford End House Nursing Home in Hawstead, near Bury St Edmunds, has been told it requires improvement after inspectors found its service was not always safe or well-led.

The home visited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on January 17 when it was deemed the quality of patient care, risk assessment plans and checks on equipment were below standard.

This comes as the registered manager told inspectors: "I know we are not where we need to be. It has been a difficult time coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I have been working hands-on nursing shifts which has meant I have had less time for management tasks but this has improved lately."

The watchdog said people's care plans did not always give staff the guidance they needed, with conflicting information about moving and handling residents.

Inspectors found people were at risk of pressure wounds and records to guide staff as to treatment of such wounds were not always personalised.

The CQC identified gaps in fire safety checks and drills, as well as a lack of regular checks on equipment such as suction machines, air mattresses and call bells.

Risks from access to stairs, wall heaters and unstable wardrobes were also found, but the provider took action to secure wardrobes to walls once this was identified.

While people had a good rapport with staff supporting them, and the provider was successful in preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections, inspectors were not assured people had received their medicines as prescribed.

Inspectors also deemed the home was not always well-led and said there was a failure to maintain care records and ensure effective governance systems.

They said everyone they spoke to, including relatives, were complimentary about the registered manager and staff said she was approachable and supportive.

In response to the feedback the provider said they would be advertising for a deputy manager and showed inspectors an action plan for a more effective system of governance.

Pinford End House Nursing Home has been contacted for comment.