Applegarth Nursing Home

Applegarth Nursing Home, in Cumberland, provides nursing and personal care for up to 53 people with complex physical health needs. The CQC rated the home Requires Improvement overall, with safety rated Inadequate. Inspectors found continued breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment and good governance, first identified at the previous inspection, that had still not been properly addressed.

Medicines were not stored securely, hazardous storage areas were left unlocked, and hygiene standards around care equipment were poor. Staff training, supervision and communication also needed improvement, though there were enough staff and recruitment was mostly sound. People and relatives described staff as kind, caring and compassionate, and felt safe despite these shortfalls.