A care home in Southport, Merseyside has been rated Inadequate by the CQC and placed in Special Measures.

Marina Care Home, which is operated by Prime Care and provides accommodation and personal care for up to 33 people, was previously rated Requires Improvement.

Hayley Moore, CQC head of inspection, said people’s basic safety and wellbeing needs were not always being met with fluid records showing gaps of between 17 hours in drinks being offered.

Moore added: “We saw a person needing a soft textured diet being given undercooked vegetables. We saw food which was too large and undercooked for a fork to go into it which posed a serious choking risk.

“We also saw staff place a hot meal on a person’s knee in the lounge, the person was not able to manage this and was at risk of being burned until another staff member intervened.”

In addition, the CQC said people were not protected from infection risks with furniture in bedroom and communal area being “heavily soiled” and people not supported to clean their hand before mealtimes and no napkins available.

Additionally, safeguarding incidents, including injuries, had not been raised with the local authority and CQC on several occasions.

A spokesperson for Marina Care commented: “Marina Care Home are very disappointed with the recent CQC findings and are working with the recommended relevant parties by the CQC to make the required rating.

“We are under new management and with out dedicated team we are staying positive, focused and keeping family members updated. Improvements have been seen by adult social care workers. We welcomed their support and are working together towards changes to help get back to the high standards that Marina Care homes strive for.

“Marina Care has always prided itself on providing the highest quality of care and ‘enriched’ lifestyles for everyone who lives here. Our residents wellbeing and welfare has and always will be our primary priority.

“We are grateful to CQC and other professionals for their support they are providing us.”