Lake View Nursing Home in Chorley to close amid care probe
A Lancashire care home under investigation over the alleged mistreatment of residents is to close.
Lake View Nursing Home in Withnell, Chorley, has taken the decision amid concerns about patient safety.
An inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last year raised concerns over staff shortages and a lack of hot water to showers.
A report from a further inspection carried out this month has not yet been published.
However, Debbie Westhead, the CQC's deputy chief inspector for adult social care in the north, said there were "significant concerns" regarding standards of care at the home.
"The home is currently falling a long way short of what we expect services to provide," she said.
"We are proposing to take enforcement action against the provider, but we are unable to provide further details at this time, pending any possibility of appeal by the provider.
"We are aware the provider intends to close the home and we are in close liaison with the provider, local authority and commissioners who will ensure that suitable arrangements are made and that residents are safely relocated at alternative placements in the area."
The home cares for people with dementia and is managed by Embrace, an independent care provider which runs support services for the elderly and young people with learning disabilities.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We are supporting an investigation into the alleged mistreatment of a number of residents.
"We have also put in our own staff to help run the home, alongside the existing staff, following Embrace's decision to close Lake View within 28 days."
A spokesman for Embrace said they had been "working hard to improve standards at the home" but the progress was not satisfactory.
He added: "In addition, due to an increased reliance on agency staff, we are not able to guarantee that residents will receive the standard of care they deserve beyond the short to medium term.
"For this reason we have taken the very difficult decision to close the home."