The family of an 88-year-old woman has informed the BBC of their “very worried” state regarding her re-admission to a care home that the healthcare watchdog has assessed as inadequate. Miriam Souter, a resident from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, was hospitalized in early October and received treatment for malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia. After making a full recovery, her family expresses that they are “devastated” by her discharge back to Blackwater Mill, the facility they believe was responsible for her health decline. In a statement, Buckland Care, the owner of the care home, indicated that it is currently reviewing the situation. The Care Quality Commission had placed the home under special measures earlier this month, following findings that it was “poorly managed” and that residents were “at risk of harm.” Phazar, Ms Souter’s daughter, told the BBC that the report did not come as a surprise to her, as she had observed a “lack of care in the home” during her visits to her mother. “A lot of the time she was just left on her own in a room – they [the staff] never really had any contact at all,” she said. She further mentioned that before her admission to the hospital earlier this month, Ms Souter had appeared “emaciated.” Despite making a full recovery in the hospital, she was sent back to Blackwater Mill at the request of the Isle of Wight Council. “We just can’t understand why they would deem her fit to go back to this care home,” her daughter commented. “She was scared and worried what was going to happen to her and I’ve been very worried too about her being in there, her general health, and why she is even in that home.” She concluded, “I want to see her out of that care home and that care home closed down.” In a statement, Buckland Care declared: “We acknowledge the concerns raised by the Souter family regarding Miriam’s care, and we are currently reviewing the details to ensure we provide a full and accurate response.” The statement continued: “We remain committed to transparency and to addressing all areas highlighted by the recent CQC report, with ongoing efforts to improve our care practices for the wellbeing and comfort of all residents.” The Isle of Wight Council, identified as the authority responsible for Ms Souter’s admission to Blackwater Mill, stated that it has been collaborating with the facility to guarantee that the requirements of its residents “continue to be met and that they remain safe and well cared for.” It further mentioned that the care home, situated near Newport, had requested a new CQC inspection to allow “the improvements that have been made can be seen.”

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