Care homes offer improved care following re-inspection say CQC, Alzheimer’s Society comment
Nearly three quarters of care homes originally rated ‘Inadequate’ have improved their ratings following re-inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) showed analysis published today (Wednesday 25 May).
CQC also found from 1 October 2014 to 31 March 2016, out of 372 care homes rated as ‘Inadequate’, 73% (273) have improved their overall ratings following the most recent CQC inspection. From these re-inspections, three quarters (205) have gone from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Requires Improvement’, and a quarter (68), have gone from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good.’
Yet still, 99 care homes did not demonstrate sufficient progress to have their overall rating amended. 34 care homes that were ‘Inadequate’ and re-inspected have subsequently become inactive – either following enforcement action taken by CQC or due to the provider choosing to close the service.
George McNamara, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Society said: “It’s positive to hear that three quarters of care homes have improved their ratings, resulting in many people experiencing better and safer care from these services. However, today’s figures also show that one-third of inadequate care homes re-inspected by the CQC are still inadequate or have closed, while half of care homes re-inspected have improved but are still not providing the care that people with dementia have the right to expect.
“This is strong cause for concern and echoes the findings of our Fix Dementia Care campaign, which found that thousands of the 280,000 people with dementia who live in care homes are still being let down by the health and social care system - and provided with a second-class service.
“There is absolutely no room for complacency. A care home is a person’s home and must be treated as a vital part of the community.”
