A Rochester nursing home has been warned to make urgent improvements after inspectors found failings in the way it cares for elderly residents.

The Care Quality Commission made a surprise inspection of Winchester House, in Wouldham Road.

Inspectors raised concerns the home was not ensuring residents were treated with dignity and respect or their individual needs were taken into account.

They also found there were insufficient numbers of qualified staff working in two dementia nursing units.

There were also concerns over a failure to maintain accurate records for people living at the home.

The home, run by Barchester Healthcare, has now been issued four formal warning notices after the September inspection.

Roxy Boyce, the Care Quality Commission's south east director, said: "The law says that these are the standards of quality and safety in care that people using services should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant with these standards at all times.

"The issuing of four warning notices sends a clear and public message that Barchester Healthcare Homes Ltd needs to address its failings as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.

"Our inspectors will be returning to Winchester House in the near future and if we find that the home is not making the required progress we will not hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there."

Do you have a relative at Winchester House? Phone the newsroom on 01634 227803 or email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk.