A CIRENCESTER care home has been rapped after residents were left in bed in discomfort for FOUR HOURS during a recent inspection.
Inspectors returned to Watermoor House last week after an earlier inspection found residents ‘were not always treated with kindness, compassion or dignity’.
An overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’ was given to the home in Cirencester’s Watermoor Road, which offers residential care and respite stays for up to 39 people, after the recent Care Quality Commission visit.
Fluids for one resident were also found to be inconsistently monitored, with a report saying they had developed a urinary tract infection which might have been prevented.
Inspectors said they had served a warning notice on Watermoor House RCH, which runs the home, ‘for failing to meet the regulations related to safe care and treatment and governance and oversight processes at Watermoor House RCH’.
An inspection of the home took place in September last year, with the report published in January.
The CQC said it assessed the service - which at the time of the inspection supported people with and without dementia, a person with a learning disability and individuals on end-of-life care - after concerns were raised about its safety and quality.
Watermoor House was judged as requiring improvement in all of the inspection’s key areas, including ‘Safe’, ‘Effective’, ‘Caring’, ‘Responsive’ and ‘Well-led’.
Under the heading of ‘Caring’, the report said: “People who needed support with repositioning were not always supported in a timely manner.
“This led to them being sat in bed or in chairs in undignified ways.
“For example, we saw two people in their bed in an uncomfortable position for four hours.
“We spoke to one person who was experiencing distress, and they told us: ‘I’m lonely. Staff haven’t got time.’
“People told us they did not always get a choice of having a shower every day.
“One person told us: ‘I would love a bath, but don’t always get one.’”
The inspection found some elements of Watermoor House’s service were not always safe and there was an increased risk people could be harmed.
Unsafe areas in the care environment were found to be accessible to people, like an open stairwell where handling and moving equipment was being stored.
A large window on the second floor of the building was found not to have a window restrictor, though it was confirmed this was being rectified as a matter of urgency.
Hazardous cleaning chemicals were also found to be being stored in an accessible area during the inspection, meaning people living with dementia could access them.
The CQC said the provider has made changes to mean chemicals were stored securely since the assessment.
A spokesperson for Watermoor House told the Standard on Tuesday, March 10: “Watermoor House was inspected by the CQC in September 2025.
“Its report, published the following January, highlighted both areas that had already improved in the interim and a wide range of positive comments about how caring the service was and that residents feel well cared for.
“It also identified areas for improvement, many relating to administration and recordkeeping.
“Since the inspection, we have been working closely with CQC, making further improvements and strengthening our systems, recordkeeping and procedures.
“As part of CQC’s normal regulatory process, the commission conducted a follow-up inspection at the home this past week to review those improvements.
“An updated report is expected in the coming weeks, and we look forward to its publication.
“The wellbeing, safety and dignity of our residents remain our absolute priority, and we are committed to continually improving the service we provide.”
Initial feedback from the CQC after its recent visit has reportedly acknowledged improvements and noted feedback from inspectors that the service was safe and well led.
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