Two die as nursing home shuts

Two elderly people died and several were taken into hospital after inspectors had their nursing home shut immediately following a recent visit, it has emerged.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) obtained an urgent court order to cancel the registration of Southfield Care Homes, in Brackley, Northants, after last Friday's random check found residents were "at serious risk" because of poor care standards.

Eight residents were taken into hospital after the visit, with a number needing immediate medical attention.

And council officials confirmed that two terminally ill residents have since died.

No suggestion has been made that the hospital admissions or deaths were linked to either the standard of care at the privately-owned home or its closure.

However, police are now assessing the case along with local health and social care bodies and the CSCI.

In a statement, a Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said: "As part of the routine procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults, used when there is a concern about the quality of care, Northamptonshire Police, together with Commission for Social Care Inspection and other agencies, are examining in more detail the information that is available about the quality of care that was provided.

"The examination of any information, which is a standard procedure for safeguarding adults, will take some weeks."

Age Concern, which was represented this week at a meeting about the closure, said the care highlights the need for "more effective" care home checks.

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