Care home residents were put at increased risk of fire due to creams which intensify blazes and ramp up the speed of ignition not being stored correctly.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found the Hailey Residential Care Home in Herne Bay was “not always safe” over the use of emollients which contain petroleum.

It was also found people living at the service near the town’s seafront smoked and kept lighters on their person and fire safety risk assessments “had not been adhered to”.

Official guidance advises people not to smoke, use naked flames or be near anything which may ignite while wearing clothing that has been in contact with these creams.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says creams can be easily transferred from skin onto clothing, bedding and bandages.

It says research and tests have shown the dried-on cream makes the fabric more flammable and “the resulting fire burns quickly and intensely, resulting in serious injury or death”.

According to the government agency, more than 50 fatal incidents were identified by the fire service between 2010 and July 2020 in England where emollients were known to have been used by the victim or were present at the scene of the blaze.

There was an increased risk of fire from these creams as they were not stored correctly

Although emollients are not flammable in themselves or when on the skin, when dried on to fabric they act as an accelerant, increasing the speed of ignition and intensity of the fire, the MHRA says.

The creams are used to help manage dry, itchy or scaly skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and ichthyosis.

The Hailey Residential Care Home, based in Beacon Hill, provides accommodation and personal care to up to 40 people who need support with their mental health.

The CQC says some people’s prescribed creams were emollients and contained petroleum.

“There was an increased risk of fire when these creams were used,” the report states.

“They required safe storage and management.

“Emollients are easily transferred from skin onto clothing and bedding.”

Inspectors also found many people living at the service smoked and kept lighters on their person.

But MHRA guidance states: “Do not smoke, use naked flames or get near to anything which may cause a fire whilst wearing clothing or a bandage that has been in contact with skin creams.

“If this is not possible, you must take steps to ensure you are safe when you smoke or use naked flames.

There was an increased risk of fire when these creams were used

“For example, by using a flameless lighter or e-cigarette, and removing long sleeved or baggy clothing before using a gas hob.”

The MHRA says clothing with skin cream on can “catch fire easily”.

The CQC report added: “There was an increased risk of fire from these creams as they were not stored correctly.

“There were risk assessments in place on how to safely manage the fire risks from creams, but these had not been adhered to.”

It was also found risks to people’s health, safety and welfare were not consistently assessed and managed.

“For example, some people were upset and distressed and may display behaviours which could place themselves or others at risk,” the report states.

“There was no guidance for staff about how to manage these situations safely and consistently.

“Whilst permanent staff were able to tell us how they managed these situations safely, there was a risk new staff or agency staff would not know how to support the person in a way that suited them best.

“During the inspection, staff dealt with situations sensitively and safely.”

It was found residents at the home “were not supported by staff who had been safely recruited”.

Two of the three staff files reviewed did not evidence a full employment history.

As a result of the findings, inspectors downgraded the facility’s rating from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’ overall – but retained good ratings for caring, effective and responsive while requires improvement in the well-led and safe categories.

Michael Todd, managing director of All About Care Limited, which runs the Hailey Residential Care Home, said: “The Hailey has maintained ‘good’ ratings for the last 14 years and we are working closely with the CQC and our staff to restore a good rating as quickly as possible.

“The Hailey has robust risk assessments in place for these types of cream and it was an oversight by staff on inspection day.

“Staff have been told of the CQC findings and reminded of our risk assessment procedures and policies.”