National care home inspectors have been sent in to Brookfield House care home in Nantwich after dementia sufferer Roy Tomlinson walked out and disappeared for a week.
The 83-year-old was found dead in an outbuilding off Wellington Road, just a few hundred yards from the home on Shrewbridge Road.
A massive police search involving more than 100 officers, search and rescue volunteers and many residents was conducted for six days.
Now we can reveal the Care Quality Commission – the independent regulator of health and social care in England – has sent a team of inspectors in to Brookfield House to conduct a major inspection.
A CQC spokesperson told Nantwichnews: “We are aware of the tragic incident involving a resident of Brookfield House Care Home, Nantwich, on Tuesday 2 February 2016.
“Our thoughts are with the family.
“We are currently supporting Cheshire Police with their investigation and are working alongside Cheshire East Council regarding the incident and to ensure the safety of the people at the home.
“We have visited the service this week and commenced a comprehensive inspection, and we will report on our findings in due course.”
The £700-a-week home (pictured) is run by Astley Care Homes Ltd and houses 51 residents.
The facility is registered to offer specialised care for those with dementia as well as mental health conditions, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, and Epilepsy.
According to the Care Quality Commission website, the care home was registered under its new owners on September 3, 2015.
But prior to Mr Tomlinson’s death, the CQC had not carried out an inspection of the facility.
Earlier in the week, a Brookfield House care home spokesperson say they were conducting an internal inquiry into Mr Tomlinson’s disappearance.
Their statement added: “Our thoughts are very much with his family at this difficult time.
“We shall be supporting the police in any further inquiries they have concerning this tragic incident.”
This is not the only care home in Nantwich to have the Care Quality Commission intervene. In December 2014 I called the CQC to Church house care home on Coole Lane after severe concerns regarding care and staff there. Me and my partner witnessed the neglect bestowed on my mother at the care home on 7th December personally after being in her room from 09.00 hours to 23-30hrs. Following an investigation into the care home the then manageress was dismissed and is currently awaiting further court hearings from the nursing and midwifery council later this year to which I have been called as a witness. The CQC need to be tougher and have more powers to do spot checks etc on care homes . The elderly are so vulnerable and they need to be protected.