A BLACKBURN care home has been warned its service is ‘inadequate’ after concerns were raised that it was ‘dirty and unhygienic’.

Care Quality Commission inspectors visited Sandybrook on Sandy Lane in Lower Darwen in November and the report of their findings was published last month.

The home provided support and personal care to 21 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection but could support up to 25 people.

In the report, inspectors said: “At our last inspection, this was rated as requires improvement. At this inspection it has deteriorated to inadequate. This meant people were not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm.”

Meanwhile, when coming to preventing and controlling infections there were come concerns for inspectors and family members of people at the facility.

The report said: “People were at risk of harm as the environment was dirty and unhygienic.

“General cleanliness levels were poor.”

There were odours in communal areas and bedrooms. One staff member told the inspectors that there was an issue with a person urinating in a bedroom but it had remained in place despite someone else living there.

There were issues with the windows being ‘very unclean throughout the building’ and ‘some beds had been made despite having soiled sheets’.

The inspectors spoke with relatives who told them that family members were occasionally wearing clothes which did not belong to them. They said: “One problem is laundry. Mum’s wearing someone else’s clothes again.”

Safety of the residents was a concern as there was a ‘significant electrical hazard during the inspection and had to ensure urgent action was taken to make it safe’ and also that fire escapes had not been checked since April 2019.

The CQC also said: “Relatives gave us positive feedback about the care staff being kind and caring.”

The Lancashire Telegraph contacted the managers of Sandybrook but were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

On the CQC site, it the home states that they are carrying out a review at Sandybrook.