Criticism of council-run care home

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Marjorie Cobby House, in St Peter’s Crescent, wanting following an inspection on June 21, published on July 26.

The CQC said people who used the service, staff and visitors were not protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises.

The service is provided by West Sussex County Council, Royal West Sussex NHS Trust and GPs.

The report said: “We found that in many of the bedrooms paint was scuffed and worn behind beds and chairs. Bedside tables were worn with the underlying chipboard exposed. We saw peeling wallpaper in another bedroom. In the corridors the paint on skirting boards and door frames was chipped. This meant surfaces could not be effectively cleaned.

“In bathrooms and toilets there was chipped paint, wall plaster degraded, rusty radiator covers and missing tiles. In a sluice the tiles over the sink were chipped.

“This posed a risk of infection to people.”

The CQC visited in January, 2012, and found ‘moderate’ concerns in this area, which were addressed by the time of the next inspection in April 2012, with refurbishment work in the pipeline.

The CQC said of the June 21 visit that none of the refurbishment work had begun and it was due to start in November.

“We found an environment in decline and the provider had not made any interim plans to manage this,” the report said.