Dunkirk Memorial House

Minehead Road, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BT

01823432407

Care Type

Nursing Care

Inspection date

9 March 2021

Provider

The Royal British Legion

Beds

90 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 10 care homes for older people within 5 miles, none are rated higher by CQC, 1 is the same and 9 are lower.

10 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.

Based on CQC ratings, updated 22 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes

Rating history

OutstandingJun 2016
OutstandingJan 2019

Rated Outstanding at every inspection since 2016.

Source: CQC inspection reports. Contains CQC data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Costs and who runs this home

Run by The Royal British Legion, which runs 6 care homes in England: 2 rated Outstanding, 3 Good and 1 Requires Improvement.

Average care home fees in the South West: £1,170 a week for residential care and £1,472 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

NHS-funded Nursing Care pays £267.68 a week to the home towards registered nursing care for eligible residents (2026/27). A quoted fee may already exclude it.
This home lists dementia care, which usually costs more than standard residential care. See dementia care home costs. NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply where someone's needs are primarily health needs.
How to pay for a care home explains the council means test, what counts as capital and the funding you can ask to be assessed for.

About Dunkirk Memorial House

Dunkirk Memorial House is a nursing home in Somerset, providing nursing and personal care for older people, including those living with dementia, with a particular focus on ex-service people and their dependents. Details of the latest CQC findings are set out below.

Dunkirk Memorial House accommodates up to 90 people and specialises in caring for ex-service people and their dependents. The home provides both nursing and personal care to older people, including those living with dementia, and can also support younger people. At the time of inspection, 75 residents were living at the home.

The main house is divided into two areas: one for people requiring nursing care and another for those needing personal care support. A separate 30-bedded unit called The Mews provides specialised care for people living with dementia.

Source: CQC inspection report, 27 March 2021

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder people

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 20 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service with nursing
Registered capacity: 90 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · TA4 3BT

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Dementia.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Outstanding.

Rating report published 3 January 2019. Latest inspection date recorded: 9 March 2021.

Safe: Good
Effective: Outstanding
Caring: Good
Responsive: Outstanding
Well-led: Outstanding

Read Dunkirk Memorial House's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Dunkirk Memorial House, consider asking...

1.What specific dementia training do staff receive and how recently?
2.How do you support a resident who becomes distressed or confused?
3.How does the home keep a record of a resident's life history and personal preferences?
4.How do you involve families as dementia progresses and communication becomes harder?
5.What happens when a resident's dementia reaches an advanced stage?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Dunkirk Memorial House, look out for...

1.Is the environment calm, uncluttered and easy to navigate?
2.Do staff speak to residents with patience and dignity, even if they repeat themselves?
3.Are there memory cues around the home -- photos, familiar objects, clear signage?
4.Do residents seem settled and safe, or agitated and unsupervised?
5.Is there meaningful activity happening, or are residents just sitting quietly with nothing to do?

Could the NHS fund Dunkirk Memorial House's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees