The Care Quality Commission report into Spring Lodge Care Home in Worthing makes for disturbing reading.

When an elderly and vulnerable loved one moves into a home we trust the care and support they receive will be to the highest possible standard.

So when it emerges that the home has fallen well short of the standards expected, it understandably causes a ripple of unease.

Of course the vast majority of homes are well run and provide a caring and professional service – ones like Spring Lodge are rare.

However this is why regular checks and inspections are absolutely vital and it is good to see that following this inspection, the decision was taken by the home’s owners to close it and the residents have now moved to new locations.

Hopefully lessons will be learned from this inspection and the routine visits to all homes will continue for the foreseeable future to make sure people get the care and support they are entitled to.