The CQC is supposedly the independent regulator for inspecting health and social care settings so that the vulnerable remain safe from harm and exploitation in care homes and the like.
They became famous in the wake of the WINTERBOURNE VIEW home scandal, where animals masquerading as human care workers routinely abused adults with learning difficulties. The situation was highlighted by BBC’s PANORAMA using a hidden camera. The CQC came later.
When Bristol City Council closed all their residential care homes for the elderly in 2013 due to cuts, they promised that the existing residents would be transferred to safe care settings.
“Don’t worry,” they said,” the CQC will INSPECT AND CLOSE any homes that do not reach tough standards.”
What a load of bollox. As the BRISTOLIAN’s investigation of Holmwood House has revealed, the home has failed every inspection for the last five years, killed a resident and is now subject to legal action but it’s still open for business!
The CQC web site says that there are currently 77 settings classed as ‘INADEQUATE’ and 316 ‘NEEDING IMPROVEMENT’. Which is just funky unless it’s your nan lying all day in her own urine, hoping that somebody will turn her over to ease the bed sores. Why don’t they shut these homes?
The answer is LACK OF PROVISION. Councils have been forced to shut all their homes. So if inspectors suggest closure, the money grabbing care home bosses supported by council bosses say, “OK. Fine. But where are you going to put the residents?”
Look at Holmwood House with over 100 residents, many placed there by Bristol City Council. The truth is that dodgy care home bosses have FREE REIN to rake in money by paying care workers a pittance in under staffed settings while the vulnerable suffer and in some cases die.
This comes after the elderly have paid their national insurance all their lives and, sometimes, have had to sell their homes to pay for their abuse.
And it will continue because nobody cares unless you start caring.
