Residents given hours to leave care home over safety fears

Residents were this month given less than a 24 hours to leave a Doncaster care home and find alternative accommodation due to safety fears.

Doncaster Council removed the 27 residents from Warneford House, which is owned by UK Medi-Care Associates, after concerns were raised over the lack of management and inadequate standards of care provided.

Karen Johnson, assistant director of adult social care and safeguarding, said: “This was an unprecedented situation and while we appreciate it has been a difficult time, the safety of our residents is of upmost concern. We have been working closely with residents and their families to find alternative suitable accommodation in Doncaster.”

Story continues below

Advertisement

A fleet of ambulances arrived to remove the residents from the home ahead of its closure on August 3. One resident was reported to have been moved to two further homes before a suitable placement was found.

The decision to move the residents at such short notice along with the sacking of 45 care workers was slammed as “disgusting” by the GMB union, which has written to local MP Ed Miliband to investigate the closure.

The closure of the home took place before a scheduled CQC inspection on August 6.

A CQC spokesperson said: “CQC was not involved in Doncaster Council’s decision, but is currently reviewing evidence supplied by its partner agencies in order to determine whether any further action is required in the interests of those using services.”