Larchwood Care has said “lessons have been learnt” and changes implemented after the Ombudsman upheld a complaint about care at an Essex care home.

The care home provider agreed to apologies and pay £200 for distress caused to the daughter of a resident, referred to Mrs F, at Stambridge Meadows Care Home from June to August 2022.

Stambridge Meadows, which is rated Requires Improvement, was sold to Ilford Homes on 1 February 2023.

Mrs F, who was in her 80s and was living with dementia, developed pressure sore and lost 1.1kg over four weeks during her stay at the home.

She was transferred to another home in August 2022 and sadly died in October 2022.

In his decision, the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman found gaps in the provider’s care records but could find no evidence of fault in the monitoring of pressure areas or that Mrs F’s refusal of food and drink was due to fault by the care provider.

A spokesperson for the home said: “We are very sorry that the resident’s experience was not a positive one. Lessons have been learnt and changes implemented prior to the sale to a new operator. We will advise the Ombudsman.”