A FAILING nursing home in Bracknell has been ordered to shut after losing its fight against a government healthcare panel's attempts to close it down. 

Birdsgrove Nursing Home in Warfield Road had been issued a notice by the Care Quality Commission in June 2015 to cancel its registration, following a series of inspections which raised concerns about the safety of the home's elderly residents, many of whom have dementia. 

Owners Aster Healthcare lost their appeal against the cancellation notice on April 1 this year, weeks after the home was rated 'inadequate' and placed into special measures by the CQC. 

However they then took their appeal up to a 1st Tier Tribunal - but have now been ordered to shut their doors imminently.

A letter received by the News from Aster Healthcare's operations director Raj Gokhool, reads: "We are now in a position to inform you of the current position at Birdsgrove Nursing Home.

"As you are aware, for the past year we have been challenging the CQC about their intention to cancel the registration for Birdsgrove Nursing Home. We have invested heavily in the home even though we were not allowed to take any new admissions and we maintained higher staffing level.

"I hope you will agree that we have sustained the good level of care and standards within the home, staff turnover has been virtually zero and residents have been well cared for with dignity.

"The Bracknell Safeguarding Team have been carrying out welfare visits on a regular basis and so have other authorities and the overall feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging.

"We are one of the very few homes in Bracknell who had no falls, no tissue viability issues, no serious incidents and no safeguarding concerns that we are proud of, despite the close scrutiny we have been subjected to.

"Sadly, despite all the hard work and dedication by our organisation and staff, the CQC continues to resist our appeal against closure of the home.

"This is the outcome of the inspection carried out by the CQC in August 2016.

"The final outcome of the inspection is that the service requires improvement but as the rating in the safe domain was inadequate, the CQC opinion was that they would press along with their proposal to cancel the registration of Birdsgrove Nursing Home. We have raised with the CQC serious concerns about the last inspection.

"However, the CQC has persisted with its course and it is no longer sustainable for us to oppose them, especially given the CQC's ban on admissions, which has reduced occupancy at the home.

"Hence it is with deep regret and heartfelt sadness that we have decided to give notice of leave to all our residents. The notice period expires on the 20th December 2016, when the home will close.

"We will of course work closely with residents, families from the local authority and the CCG to ensure that all moves are conducted safely, with dignity, compassion and respect."

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