Merton Council threatens failing Mitcham care home

A care home is to be investigated after claims residents were neglected and mistreated. Merton Council has suspended placements at the privately run Eltandia Hall, Middle Way, Norbury, and has threatened to remove older people already there if the centre does not improve.

The council has also alerted other local authorities of its decision.

The daughter of a former resident, whose care at the home is one case being looked at, described the decision as “fantastic”.

Council officers took the decision on March 4 after a surge of complaints from social workers and members of the public – including worries about bedsores on patients, inadequate wound care and problems delivering medication.

Terry Hutt, the council’s head of community care, said: “The strong message is that only when I feel there is concrete evidence of consistent improvement in the areas that need it will I be prepared to even consider further placements.”

“The message to them is work with us. Ignoring the problems is not an option. If I don’t see improvements we will remove people. I’m not looking at that yet, but I need to see improvements.”

Southern Cross (owners of the care home) were informed decision on March 13, and were told the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), an independent care home watchdog, would investigate.

Mr Hutt promised an individual review into the case of “at least one” resident and has told Southern Cross to prepare an improvement plan for the home be this Friday, as well as individual improvement plans for staff.

The home, which has 83 rooms and currently houses 42 people on council placements, was one of four in which Merton ‘block bought’ places for its residents.

A spokesman for Southern Cross said: “Management at the home is working closely with Merton Council, CSCI and social services. A comprehensive action and improvement plan will be implemented in order to address any concerns raised.”

Last month the Wimbledon Guardian highlighted serious problems at some of the borough’s care homes discovered by a council scrutiny panel.