Carpet in Briars care home in Southampton ‘had urine stench’

THE stench of urine in a resident’s room at a Southampton care home overwhelmed inspectors on an unannounced visit, a court heard.

Inspectors from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) made a series of unannounced visits to The Briars retirement home days before they took action to close the home in Thorold Road, Bitterne Park, and move all the residents.

Carol Payne, CSCI regulation manager, described to Southampton Crown Court how on one visit inspectors told the manager Margaret Priest one room needed immediate action, but hours later the carpet was still soaked in urine.

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“One particular room was brought to the attention of the manager where the carpet was saturated and the smell of urine was overwhelming,”

she said.

She said the resident, known as Ivy, was soaked in urine and her legs and feet were uncovered during the morning visit.

“When we went back to the room at five in the afternoon Ivy was laid in the bed and her feet and legs were still uncovered. Faeces were smeared on the sheets and the wet stains were still on the carpet,” she said.

The jury in the trial of The Briars owner Annette Hopkins and manager Priest, heard how the visits were made as staff and extra visitors tried to carry out a number of assessments following a series of letters between CSCI and the retirement home.

When questioned by the defence barrister for Hopkins, Kate Lumsden, Mrs Payne told the jury this would not have been the same as a “normal day”.

Hopkins, 64, of Thorold Road, and Priest, 56, of Lydgate Green, Hightown, deny charges of ill treatment and neglect of 16 elderly residents.