A VULNERABLE patient was forced to sit on a toilet for almost three hours at a failing care home that has been slammed by health inspectors.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said people’s human rights were not always being upheld in a damning report that highlighted an endless catalogue of issues at the home.

Ferndale Court Nursing home was slapped with an Inadequate rating for a catalogue of failures including its 'strong malodorous smell', its 'dirty and sticky' rooms and disrepair – including a hole in one person’s ceiling.

The resident, who was living with dementia, told inspectors they had not slept 'for fear of what may come out of the hole in their ceiling', which was caused by a leak being repaired.

The report said a host of hygiene issues had been discovered on the first day of the surprise inspection at the Widnes care home, including 'stagnant stained water' in the dining room sink which contained cutlery and dishes.

It also said people’s basic care needs were not being met, with residents themselves appearing to look unwashed and unkempt.

The report said: “We found some people appeared unkempt in their appearance such as with dirty long finger nails, clothing with breakfast food on them in the afternoon and another person who had not been supported to have a wash or had their hair brushed.

“Some people’s bed linen was stained and was not always fitted appropriately.”

The nursing home was previously rated as requires improvement, but fell to inadequate after inspectors concluded management had not met their 'legal responsibility' to meet the breaches from the last inspection.

The report highlighted that staff levels and staff attitudes were two major problems at the home – in part due to a reliance on agency staff who often did not arrive on time.

When asked about the quality of care, one elderly person told inspectors that “some staff are nicer than others” whilst another recalled a disturbing bathroom ordeal.

That elderly resident told inspectors: “I have to wait for the toilet. It was 7.15pm. I was left on the toilet for 2.5hours. I was buzzing and buzzing. It was 8.40pm when they came to get me. The staff who went off at 8pm, didn’t tell the staff who were coming on.”

Another resident told inspectors they were forced to wear pads at night despite not being incontinent, whilst one said they had been shouted at by some staff for asking for pain relief at night.

The health watchdog criticised the care provider,HC-One Limited, for failing to ensure skilled, qualified and experienced people were being employed.

The CQC inspector  said: “People’s dignity was not always being upheld with a mixed approach observed by staff.

“Some staff were heard speaking over people whilst rushing the care being delivered. One warm, positive, interaction was observed between staff and a person living at the home.”

Other problems that led to the low rating included a failure to handle complaints or follow safegaurding systems, such as body mapping when residents sustained marks or bruises.

Health inspectors said that people were often not given enough to eat and drink, while an  abundance of signs telling patients to respect staff did not create a “homely environment.”

The report said: “The signs were not respecting people’s right to Ferndale Court being their home and not a work place where staff were imposing how they wished people to behave. The registered manager agreed with this and removed them on the inspection.”

Ferndale Court Nursing home provides care and treatment for up to a  58 people, including dementia sufferers and those on end of life care packages.

A spokesperson from care providers HC-One said they were 'disappointed' with the latest CQC report and have 'apologised unreservedly' to residents and relatives for the shortcomings.

They said an 'experienced turnaround manager' is supporting the home full time, and that already a number of measures to improve standards had been introduced, such as refreshing the training programme for staff and undertaking a thorough audit of resident care plans.

The statement continued: “So far our improvement plan is progressing well.

“The local authority is pleased with the progress we have made, and we are heartened by the number of relatives who have expressed their support for the work Ferndale Court does.

“This is more broadly supported by the home’s 9.6 out of ten rating on the independent comparison website, Carehome.co.uk.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority and we will not rest until we know that the improvements we have already made are sustained and we are meeting the expected standards for every resident every day.

“We look forward to the CQC returning to demonstrate the improvements made at Ferndale court.”