Two held in Hampshire care home fraud probe

Two nurses have been arrested on suspicion of fraud in connection with an investigation into a Hampshire County Council-run care home.

The 46-year-old and 60-year-old were arrested during a probe into allegations of fraud at Forest Court Nursing Home, Calmore.

The watchdog Care Quality Commission (CQC) also carried out an unplanned inspection of the home over concerns.

Additional senior staff are now working at the care home, the council said.

The authority said both of the arrested women were nurses employed at Forest Court by the county council.

Both of the women have been released on bail, Hampshire police said.

Forest Court Nursing Home cares for dementia patients.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, who is responsible for adult social care at the council, said: “Once our senior managers were alerted to concerns at Forest Court Nursing Home we took immediate action to ensure that residents continued to be safeguarded.

‘Ensure high standards’

“In accordance with our multi-agency safeguarding arrangement, we have referred the matter to the police who are investigating, so we are unable to comment on the detail.”

She said additional senior clinical staff were now working at the care home and assessments would be made to “ensure high standards” of care.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman said the two women were arrested on suspicion of committing fraud by false representation.

“We are working with Hampshire County Council as part of our investigation into concerns raised at Forest Court Care Home,” she added.

A CQC spokesman said: “While we cannot comment further on our findings at this stage, a report will be published on our website in due course.”