CQC report 67% increase in enforcement actions on poor or unsafe care homes

The health watchdog issued warnings and suspensions to adult care homes offering poor or unsafe care at the rate of four a day over a year-long period, a report said.

The Care Quality Commission launched 1,512 enforcement actions in 2016/17, an increase of more than 67% on the previous year.

Warning notices – for issues including unsafe care and low staffing levels – made up the majority of the enforcement actions at 1,095, while more than 100 operators were struck off the register and four prosecutions brought against providers.

Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, told the Daliy Mail: “‘These statistics are frightening for older people and their loved ones because they show that good quality, affordable care is far from guaranteed.

“Our social care system is struggling to cope and older people desperately need the Government to follow through on its commitment to develop proposals for strengthening it.”

The annual report, published in July, said the CQC had been “strengthening the capacity of our staff since receiving new powers in April 2015”.

These powers allowed the CQC to bring criminal prosecutions for the failure to provide care and treatment in a safe way.

Andrea Sutcliffe (pictured), chief inspector of Adult Social Care at the commission, said: “Most adult social care services are providing the safe and high-quality care we would expect and be happy for anyone we love, or ourselves, to receive.

“However, there is still too much poor care, some providers are failing to improve, and we are seeing some services deteriorate.

“Undoubtedly there are pressures on adult social care services but it is not acceptable for people in vulnerable situations to bear the brunt of poor care.

“We will work with providers to encourage them to improve but we will continue to use our enforcement powers in people’s best interests and take action when necessary.”

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