A LAWYER acting for the families of relatives who died at a care home riddled with abuse has welcomed new guidance on the use of CCTV cameras to check up on their loved ones.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says recording equipment can be used to monitor a place, a person, a group or an activity to gather information.

Nineteen people died at the Orchid View care home in Copthorne between 2009 and 2011.

An inquest in 2013 ruled five of the deaths were caused by sub-standard care and neglect.

A subsequent serious case review made more than 30 recommendations that need to be adopted locally, regionally and nationally to reduce the likelihood of a repeat case.

Patients at the Southern Cross-run Orchid View were abused, mistreated and neglected by staff, but the CQC graded the home as good.

Numerous safeguarding alerts at the home were also not acted upon by public services. A report published by the CQC said filming can now be done openly, or it can be done secretly.

The advice suggests those thinking of using a camera should consider how it may intrude on other people's privacy and to think about raising their concerns with the relevant parties first.

Ian Christian, a partner and medical law expert at Irwin Mitchell, who represented the families of those who died at Orchid View, said: “There is still a long way to go to bring many care homes into line with acceptable standards.

“The CQC’s on-going scrutiny of care homes and their treatment of residents is essential and welcomed.

“Many relatives of those in care homes have been using cameras to film perceived failures in care for some time and we hope the new guidance outlined by the CQC will ensure all parties are aware of what is and what is not allowed.

"While the new guidance is welcome, it is crucial that everything possible is done to prevent poor standards of care in the first instance.

“This means ensuring the tough new standards introduced by the CQC in the wake of the Orchid View review are adhered to and residents are treated with the care and respect they deserve.”

CQC chief inspector of adult social care, Andrea Sutcliffe, said: "We all want people using health and social care services to receive safe, effective, high quality and compassionate care.

"Sadly, we know that does not always happen and the anxiety and distress this causes people, either for themselves or a loved one, is simply awful.

"For some, cameras or other forms of surveillance, whether openly used by services or hidden by families, are the answer.”