Concerns raised over 'inadequate' care home

The health watchdog has raised further concerns about a care home that remains "inadequate" and without a permanent manager.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it carried out an inspection of High Lea House in Oswestry in March after concerns were raised by Shropshire Council.

CQC inspectors said there were issues with the safety of the 15 residents and the management of the care home.

Yvonne Wakefield, the owner of the home, said she felt the report highlighted isolated incidents and it was not representative of the care it provided as a whole.

She also said she had been the owner of the care home for 40 years and enjoyed nothing but "good" ratings for the majority of that time.

The care home was placed in special measures by the CQC in March 2025 and the latest inspection report said improvements had not been found.

At the time of their latest visit, inspectors found it had been without a registered manager for 12 months.

"This significantly limited the provider's ability to identify concerns promptly and take appropriate action," the report said.

The CQC also found there was no system in place to manage concerns about hydration breaks, medicines were not safely stored and medicine record-keeping was not good enough.

The recording of incidents and injuries was also inadequate, the report said, and evacuation procedures were not clear.

Residents and their families raised concerns about cleanliness and the inspectors reported limited interaction between staff and residents during mealtime.

The report highlighted some positive comments from residents, praising the staff and management.

Wakefield said she was happy to talk to families if they had concerns.

She explained the care home was in the process of being sold, making it difficult to attract a permanent manager, which meant she had to step into the role herself.

Wakefield said she was talking to the CQC about their concerns and was also preparing a complaint about the way the inspection was carried out.

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