Serious concerns have been raised about a care home rated inadequate after inspectors found residents suffering from a myriad of health risks, including broken bones and head injures.

A new report from the Care Quality Commission also revealed there had been a number of choking incidents at Ashley Gardens Care Centre in Maidstone together with a "high number of reported abuse allegations involving people not receiving their medicines as intended".

Earlier this year Mid Kent and Medway coroner Bina Patel raised concerns about the centre at an inquest into the death of resident Norman Barnes, who died aged 67 in November 2021, after choking on food while eating lunch at the home.

The centre - run by Healthcare Homes - was subsequently visited by the CQC in March, with inspectors concluding it "required improvement" and noting the home remained in breach of regulations.

Inspectors also received concerns in relation to abuse and improper treatment, medicines, falls and choking risks and staffing - and as a result the CQC undertook a "focused inspection" in June and July to review safety and leadership at the site.

The new report published on October 14 outlines the damning results of that inspection at the Sutton Road home where 84 people live.

It noted: "Risks to people's health and welfare were not always assessed, monitored and managed safely. At our last inspection we found that risks associated with people's choking and aspirations, complex eating and drinking, falls, behaviours that may challenge and fire safety support needs were not being managed safely.

"Since the last inspection there had continued to be a high number of people falling, resulting in serious injuries including bone fractures and head injuries. Reviews of people's falls and mobility care records and risk assessments had not always been completed effectively, or changes made, in response to help keep people as safe as possible."

The report added that action had not been taken to reduce the risk of people falling again, and that some falls and injuries had occurred as a result of staff not knowing how to use moving and handling equipment correctly.

It also noted there were a high number of people who needed support to avoid choking while eating and drinking, adding: "Since the last inspection there had been two further choking incidents at the service involving the same person. Some staff remained unaware of the safest way to reduce the risk of people choking.

"During our visits we observed staff not following agreed actions to prevent people choking when eating. This placed people at high risk of harm to their health and well-being."

Other failures included medicines and fire safety risks not being managed safely, while risks associated with people's diabetes and personal care support needs were not being monitored and managed safely.

Several residents' own bathrooms did not contain toothbrushes or toothpaste and some people were not using their dentures, which increased the risk of oral and secondary health infections.

The report also added: "Since the last inspection there had been a high number of reported abuse allegations involving people not receiving their medicines as intended due to staff not giving them correctly.

"We identified further errors during this inspection where one person had not been given their diabetes medicine as prescribed, and the provider had not been aware of this. This placed people's health at potential risk of harm."

The home was rated "inadequate" for both safety and leadership, and since the inspection the CQC has imposed conditions on the provider's registration.

The watchdog told the company it "must act to address concerns regarding fire safety and unsafe care for people with choking and/or aspiration, complex eating and drinking, falls, behaviour that may challenge, diabetes, skin integrity, hydration and personal care support needs".

"The company were devastated by this outcome as it in no way reflected the usual high standards of care delivered"

Healthcare Homes said an action plan had been agreed with the CQC and the local authority which was in the process of being delivered.

They said the inspection team had returned to the home ahead of the deadline for the action plan to be completed and this visit "regrettably led to the downgrading of the home’s rating to inadequate".

A statement added: "The home and the company were devastated by this outcome as it in no way reflected the usual high standards of care delivered across our homes by committed and compassionate teams that have done the most amazing job throughout the Covid pandemic and who are showing extraordinary levels of resilience under the enormous pressure that the continuing staffing crisis is placing on the whole of the care sector.

"We disagreed with some of the observations made in the CQC’s report and made appropriate representation respecting the procedures laid down by the CQC.

"We stated that we considered that the language used in the report suggested a higher level of incidents and injuries than was the case. However, our focus has always been to listen to the guidance from the regulator and the local authority; work closely with them; and rectify the shortcomings that had been reported on.

"We communicated throughout with our service users and their families, and we are grateful for the support, satisfaction, and confidence that they have always expressed in the home.

"The changes we have already made to the service are significant, and the energy and level of resources we are putting into the home are considerable.

"The former manager who recently left the company was replaced with a senior operations manager on an interim basis who is implementing the action plan agreed with the regulator.

"A recent restructure of the company’s regional operations team has enabled us to provide closer supervision of the home; and we took the additional precaution of placing a member of the executive team in the home each week to provide additional oversight and support where required.

"We are 100% committed to delivering the safest and highest quality service possible at Ashley Gardens and we are grateful to our staff team for their continuing commitment and to the residents and their families for their continued support."