A RETIREMENT home in Southampton is at the centre of a police probe into patient care following the deaths of six elderly residents.

Police swooped on The Briars in Bitterne Park after a district nurse raised the alarm.

More than a dozen officers from the city’s public protection unit raided the 34-room private care home for over-65s alongside health care professionals.

Equipped with clipboards, cameras and disposable gloves, they spent the day combing over the detached Victorian building in Thorold Road.

Police said the raid was part of an investigation into the care of a number of patients, six of whom had since died.

The investigation was triggered by the death in August of 81-year-old resident, Ronald Reed, who had been transferred to hospital from the home.

Police said the death was put down to natural causes, however, contributory factors raised suspicion over the standard of care at The Briars.

Southampton City Council, which pays for nine of the care beds at the home, is responsible for co-ordination of multi-agency investigations into allegations of abuse or neglect.

It has written to residents explaining it is reviewing their needs “due to the standards of physical care” at the home and may recommend they should move.

However, in a statement the council said it would be “inappropriate to comment on any ongoing investigation”.

Briars owner Annette Hopkins, 63, who founded the home with her late husband in 1987, said she had been shocked by the police raid. It was only later that she found out it was related to a former patient who had died.

“I’m sure he didn’t die because of us. I hope not. He had other medical problems,” she said, adding she was unaware of the details of other deaths under investigation.

However, Mrs Hopkins said the district nurse had earlier assessed nine or ten patients as requiring specialist nursing care after discovering bed sores. She admitted her home was not registered to provide that level of care.

Mrs Hopkins said: “The problem is the heart rules the head. You think you can give that bit of extra care.

“I thought we were a good care home. We have tried to do right but by trying to do right we have done wrong.”

Mrs Hopkins added she had apologised to the families of residents and she said she now feared the home would close.

One relative of a resident, who did not want to be named, defended the care at the home and called the raid a “ludicrous overreaction”.

She said: “This is extremely upsetting for the residents and the lovely staff who are caring for these vulnerable people.

“I have been appalled by the actions of the authorities concerned against a fine care home with a very good reputation in the local community.”

A police spokesman said: “The raid is part of an investigation into the care of a number of patients at ‘The Briars, some of which have since died.

“Officers were accompanied by health care professionals and although The Briars is a private home, Southampton City Council attended in an advisory role.”

The Commission for Social Care Inspection, which regulates and inspects care homes, has been informed.

A CSCI spokes-man said: “As the care homes regulator, we are aware of the police investigation and are helping in any way we can.

“The welfare of the residents of the home is of paramount importance, and in such situations we always liaise closely with social services and, if appropriate, the primary care trust.”