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| Half of care homes in South East told to improve standards | Half of care homes in South East told to improve standards |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| About half the care homes in the South East have been told to improve, with inspectors finding homes "smelling of urine". | |
| Figures released to the BBC over an 18-month period show 44% of homes in Kent, Sussex and Surrey were rated inadequate or requiring improvement. | Figures released to the BBC over an 18-month period show 44% of homes in Kent, Sussex and Surrey were rated inadequate or requiring improvement. |
| The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the number of homes told to improve was "too many". | |
| One inspection said a person had gone a month without a bath or a strip wash. | One inspection said a person had gone a month without a bath or a strip wash. |
| Another found residents often had no toilet paper and another described a strong odour of urine. | Another found residents often had no toilet paper and another described a strong odour of urine. |
| One inspection took place when it was 35C outside and the heating inside the home was switched on. | One inspection took place when it was 35C outside and the heating inside the home was switched on. |
| Fewer than 1% of homes were classed as outstanding. | |
| The quality of care homes in the South East was recently placed under the spotlight over deaths at the scandal-hit Orchid View home, in West Sussex. | The quality of care homes in the South East was recently placed under the spotlight over deaths at the scandal-hit Orchid View home, in West Sussex. |
| In October 2013 a coroner ruled 19 residents died after "sub-optimal care", with five of them suffering "neglect". | In October 2013 a coroner ruled 19 residents died after "sub-optimal care", with five of them suffering "neglect". |
| Orchid View in Copthorne, which was run by Southern Cross, closed in 2011. | Orchid View in Copthorne, which was run by Southern Cross, closed in 2011. |
| Lesley Lincoln, whose mother died at the home, said she was "not surprised" by the latest figures. | Lesley Lincoln, whose mother died at the home, said she was "not surprised" by the latest figures. |
| She said: "To say they [the CQC] are walking into homes with the smell of urine so strong it caused tears in their eyes - you think, why is that only being discovered now?" | She said: "To say they [the CQC] are walking into homes with the smell of urine so strong it caused tears in their eyes - you think, why is that only being discovered now?" |
| Ernie Graham, who owns the Graham Care Group, which has a number of homes in the South East, said prior inspections focused more on whether standards had been complied with. | Ernie Graham, who owns the Graham Care Group, which has a number of homes in the South East, said prior inspections focused more on whether standards had been complied with. |
| He said: "Now there's a lot more how the resident feels on the day - there needs to be a wider picture taken into account as well." | He said: "Now there's a lot more how the resident feels on the day - there needs to be a wider picture taken into account as well." |
| Nadra Ahmed, who is the chairwoman of the National Care Homes Association, claimed low government investment in adult social care was a contributing factor. | Nadra Ahmed, who is the chairwoman of the National Care Homes Association, claimed low government investment in adult social care was a contributing factor. |
| "Providing the care is becoming more and more difficult," she said. | "Providing the care is becoming more and more difficult," she said. |
| "Sometimes it is the environment letting people down and primarily it looks like paperwork is a major issue." | "Sometimes it is the environment letting people down and primarily it looks like paperwork is a major issue." |
| Gail Stirling, head of inspection for the South East CQC, said there was a "mixed picture" across the region into terms of care standards. | Gail Stirling, head of inspection for the South East CQC, said there was a "mixed picture" across the region into terms of care standards. |
| She said: "The 45% is too many and we want to see that improve. | She said: "The 45% is too many and we want to see that improve. |
| "I'm always disappointed to hear when people aren't receiving good care. Everybody has a right to expect good care." | "I'm always disappointed to hear when people aren't receiving good care. Everybody has a right to expect good care." |