ONE county care home was among more than 800 nationally threatened with closure in the last year unless they improved.

Coxwell Hall and Mews Nursing Home, in Faringdon, was heavily criticised after inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The watchdog sent out 910 warning notices in 2012/13 – including 820 to care homes – 43 per cent more than the 638 letters sent the previous year.

Health and social care units are inspected annually by the CQC and given one of three ratings for each of the 16 essential standards.

The worst of these ratings will see the institution sent a letter warning that it faces closure or prosecution unless improvements are made.

Coxwell Hall and Mews has since had a follow-up inspection and found to be meeting all the standards.

Susanna Pressel, of Oxfordshire’s joint health overview and scrutiny committee, said the fact homes had failed inspections was a concern.

She said: “We want care homes to be of the highest possible standards.

“They are the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council – the county council is paying for some places – so we need to be sure we get good quality for our money and we obviously need to safeguard the people in the homes.”

She added: “I am worried that the Government is cutting money available to the CQC. If there are cuts, things are going to suffer.”

The Faringdon home was found to have failed to safeguard people who use the service from abuse after an inspection in April 2012.

The CQC report said, of the five care plans inspectors looked at, three included “unexplained” injuries such as bruising to an eye or arms.

Inspectors found the incidents had been reported by staff but that they had not been investigated by the senior nurse or manager.

The report also found one entry that “briefly” described an assault at the care home, which had not been referred to the county council.

However, the CQC inspected the home again earlier this year and found improvements and no concerns.

A home spokeswoman said: “Delivering high quality care for residents is our number one priority.

“In April this year the home was inspected by the CQC and we received a very positive report about the care we provide, which found we were fully compliant in all areas.

“We will continue to work hard to ensure we have high standards across every aspect of care.”

Nationally the CQC carried out 35,371 inspections in 2012/13 and 13,470 in 2011/12.

THE FAILINGS

Coxwell Hall and Mews Nursing Home, in Faringdon, failed to safeguard people who use the service from abuse. The Care Quality Commission found three “unexplained” injuries, including bruising to arms and eyes, in care plans. Subsequent inspections have found the problems at the home have been rectified and there are no longer concerns.