Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Unclean’ care complex put in special measures
Inspectors concerned by dirty toilets and damp ceilings
A “visibly unclean” care complex has been placed in special measures after inspectors were left shocked by its dirty toilets and damp ceilings. Cedar House, a collection of residential wards outside Canterbury catering for people with mental health disorders and learning difficulties, faces the threat of closure unless services are improved.
It prides itself on offering a “therapeutic and supportive environment for patients to rehabilitate at their own pace”, but inspectors have discovered a string of problems and ordered immediate action. Officials from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Cedar House inadequate after highlighting a number of concerns upon their visit. Inspectors also found some staff - who were unfamiliar with the patients - used physical restraint as a first response, rather than using de-escalation techniques first to manage those in distress.
The use of restraint and longterm segregation were also deemed to have impacted significantly on the quality of life of some patients.
The specialist hospital, off Dover Road, Barham, is spread across six different wards and can cater for 39 residents. It was previously rated ‘good’ following an inspection in 2019. A report of the CQC’S findings reads: “All wards we visited were furnished but looked tired and showed signs of damage that could present a safety risk for patients. Four of the six wards were visibly dirty on the day of our inspection and although the provider had made improvements when inspectors returned a few days later all wards still looked bare. “The Tonbridge ward had a smell of damp throughout due to a recent flood through the ceiling of a patient’s bedroom. “The music room on Folkestone ward was dirty and the toilets were not clean. The shared bathroom and shower facilities looked visibly unclean. “The patients told us that toilets could be dirty with faeces and get blocked in the night. “Senior managers were not regularly present on the wards and nursing staff felt they did not understand the daily challenges they faced.”
The CQC undertook the inspection in February but only made the report public this week. Out of five categories, Cedar House was deemed ‘inadequate’ in safety and its management, while being rated ‘good’ in both its effectiveness and caring qualities, and ‘requires improvement’ in responsiveness. Staff were found to generally treat patients with kindness and be respectful to their dignity and privacy.
They also “knew how to recognise and report abuse should it occur and involved families and carers when they could”. The Huntercombe Group, which manages Cedar House, says it is “deeply disappointed” with the outcome of the inspection and is committed to improving the services.
A spokesman said: “Our highest priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of the people in our care. The inspection has highlighted areas where improvements are needed in the service we deliver to patients, and we are fully committed to addressing these areas swiftly and improving our practices as we take the learnings from this inspection forward.”
‘Patients told us toilets could be dirty with faeces and get blocked in the night’