A care home has been placed in special measures for failing to handle residents’ health care needs safely.

Oaklands, in Forest Glade, Langdon Hills, provides care for 55 residents.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) viewed the home in early October and found that safety at the home was a concern, rating it inadequate.

An inspector said although there were improvements to handling medications, not all residents’ medical records and needs were updated.

They said: “On the first day of our inspection a person was taken to hospital following swelling to their mouth.

“Records showed the person had been admitted to hospital previously for the same condition however no care plan or risk assessment was in place to advise staff and provide guidance on what action to take in the event of re-occurrence.”

In another instance, one of the home’s residents said that they had fallen out of bed in the night, bruising themselves, but could not reach the call bell.

The resident said: “I’ve never used my call bell, the very time I needed it I couldn’t reach it. I shouted and somebody came, I don’t know how long I lay there.”

The inspectors pressed call bells during their inspection and found that they were responded to within two minutes.

A spokesman for the home said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of residents is our number one priority.

“We take all feedback from the CQC very seriously and we have taken a number of steps to address the concerns raised during its inspection.

“A robust action plan, which has been well received by the CQC, is in place, and includes updating all care plans and increasing the training for all support staff to improve the home’s record keeping. The home is being fully supported by the wider regional team and we are pleased with the progress.”