Death probe at Longton Nursing Home

Health watchdog, the Care Quality Commision (CQC), and Lancashire County Council’s adult safeguarding team are now looking into standards at Longton Nursing Home in Marsh Lane, Longton, following the incident on Saturday, July 27.

The woman died in hospital after the choking episode, and it was reported to the CQC the following day.

A CQC spokesman said: “CQC is aware of the tragic death of a resident of Longton Nursing Home in Preston and we are liaising closely with the local authority safeguarding team and the other agencies involved.

“In the meantime, we will continue to monitor this provider closely to ensure the safety and well-being of people using this service and will not hesitate to take regulatory action as required.”

Lancashire County Council said it was normal procedure for the safeguarding team to work alongside the CQC in such cases, and that staff will be monitoring compliance at the home.

The home’s matron declined to comment on the investigation, but it is known that she attended the woman’s funeral on Tuesday morning.

According to the latest CQC inspection, published in October 2012, the home, which can cater for up to 58 people, missed two out of five essential Government compliance markers.

The failed elements were standards of providing care, treatment and support that meets people’s needs, and standards of quality and sustainability of management.

At the time, the CQC report said that residents were “very complimentary” about the staff team, but that action needed to be taken as “assessed needs were not always properly planned” and “systems were not in place to ensure outcomes were always effectively managed.”

Source The Lancashire Evening Post