Enforcement action has been taken against a flagship west Suffolk care home after it was given a damning report by the Care Quality Commission.

Care UK’s Mildenhall Lodge was found to be providing inadequate meals to patients who reported being left hungry and thirsty while call bells were unanswered for almost quarter of an hour.

Inspectors made their findings during an unannounced visit to the home in St Johns Road Close, Mildenhall, on July 31 this year, just two months after it opened.

Mildenhall Lodge was the first of 10 new homes to be opened in the county under a deal between Care UK and Suffolk County Council.

A number of existing homes have also transferred from the council’s management to that of Care UK as part of the same deal.

The partner of a resident at the home has now spoken about his concerns, claiming his partner was left in soiled clothes on several occasions.

The inspection judged Mildenhall Lodge on five standards: The Care and welfare of people who use services; safeguarding people who use services from abuse; staffing; assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision, and; records.

Only the second standard was found to have been met by the home while the last three were judged as “action needed”.

However the report said enforcement action had to be taken against Mildenhall Lodge “to protect the health, safety and welfare of people using this service”.

Among the reasons given for this judgement were:

- “No evidence” of promoting a healthy diet for a patient with diabetes

- Call bells left ringing for more than 10 minutes before being answered

- Being unable to locate staff within an acceptable amount of time

- A patient being hospitalised because their food was not correctly prepared

Care UK have now responded, see what they said here.

Councillor Alan Murray, cabinet member for health and adult care, last night said the home had taken swift action in response to the report’s findings.

“Care UK has fallen short of the standards expected of them,” Mr Murray said. “However, it is reassuring to hear that they have taken swift, decisive action to rectify the areas of concern raised by the CQC inspectors.

“As part of our ongoing relationship with Care UK we will work with them to make sure that the standard of care in the new homes is first class from the minute the first resident moves in.

“We expect all care homes in the county to deliver the very best levels of care to its residents. Whenever concerns are raised and standards are not being met we will take the necessary steps to ensure residents are safeguarded and that improvements are made as quickly as possible.”

Staff at Mildenhall Lodge declined to make a statement and Care UK were not available.