A HAMPSHIRE care home has been ordered to make urgent improvements because it is failing to protect the safety and welfare of elderly people.

Standards watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that Dawson Lodge home, pictured, in West End, Southampton, was not up to scratch in two of five areas it inspected.

It criticised medicine management in the home and said gaps in medicine records showed that people were at risk of missing doses of prescribed ointments.

Now it has warned Anchor Trust, the owners of the home in Botley Road, they must turn things around and they will remain under the watchful eye of the organisation to ensure things improve.

The findings were revealed after an unannounced inspection of the residential care home, which has 43 people on its books, back in October.

But already new procedures have been put in place and further training has been given to staff, according to the care home.

The inspection found it was already performing well in its respect and involvement of residents, levels of staffing and its assessment and monitoring of its quality of service.

But the formal warning was issued about the management of medicines because Dawson Lodge did not have appropriate arrangements in place to manage all medicines effectively.

In addition the report found the home was not meeting people’s nutritional needs.

Although arrangements were in place to assess people’s diet and monitor their weight, the home was told it needed to take action to ensure residents’ food and drink intake was monitored effectively with plans in place to protect people from dehydration and malnutrition.

This was however judged to have a minor impact on residents.

If the improvements are not made, the CQC has the power to restrict services provided, or ultimately suspend or cancel the service altogether.

Chris Haresign, district manager for Dawson Lodge, said: “We recognise the issues raised by the CQC report, and we have now carried out a full review of our procedures.

“All staff are now receiving new training on recording how they apply creams, additionally we are running training courses for all staff to increase their awareness of nutrition and hydration.

“We are now satisfied that we meet all requirements in the highlighted areas. Our priority is our customers’ wellbeing and ensuring they have happy living for the years ahead.”

Southampton City Council said they had no-one placed at the home.

Hampshire County Council has nine residents at Dawson Lodge and is now looking at the issues raised as part of its safeguarding process.

A spokesman said: “The safety and well-being of all residents – whether funded by the county council or not – is a priority.”