A CARE home in Birkenhead “requires improvement” following an inadequate safety rating during its latest inspection.

According to a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report, residents at Nazareth House care home on Manor Hill, Prenton have been found as “not safe” and “at risk of avoidable harm”.

At the last inspection, which took place in June 27, the care home had previously been rated “requires improvement” for safety.

At this inspection, this had deteriorated to an “inadequate” rating.

The latest report states: “The management of medication was unsafe.

“People's risks were not adequately assessed, monitored, and managed to prevent avoidable harm.”

Both of which are a breach of Regulation 12 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

During the latest inspection, which took place on August 11, 2022, inspectors found information about some people's medicines was “unclear and insufficient”.

Including one person's medication record which listed two different creams with two different strengths for the same condition. The report found it was “unclear” which cream had been prescribed for use.

The report also stated that the system in place to ensure medicines that needed to be given at specific times and correctly were “not robust”.

An example in the report said one person had two different medicines, one to be given before food, one to be given after. Yet staff were advised to administer both medicines at the same time. Not adhering to the manufacturer's instructions for administering medication can impact on their effectiveness.

Inspectors found the use of “high-risk medicines” such as anti-coagulants had not been risk assessed and staff “lacked information” on any potential risks or side effects.

It also found that the administration of medication designed to thicken fluids for people who may have swallowing difficulties was not accurately recorded. The report stated this meant it was “impossible” to tell if they were given as prescribed.

Medicines were also found to not always be stored safely with prescribed creams and soaps found stored in bedrooms.

When it came to the care home being assessed in the “well-led” domain, the care home was rated as “requires improvement”.

The report stated: “At the last inspection this key question was rated requires improvement. At this inspection, this key question has remained the same.

“This meant the service management and leadership were inconsistent. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.

“The governance arrangements in place were not robust. Managerial oversight remained poor and record keeping was inadequate.”

Nazareth House have been contacted for a comment.