A Letchworth care home which was inspected by the health and social care watchdog during a COVID outbreak has had its latest report published.

Garden City Court - run by Quantum Care - was visited by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission on January 6.

The home, in Whiteway, provides accommodation and care for up to 75 older people - at the time of this inspection 65 people lived at the site.

The new report stated "robust infection control procedures in place". It said inspectors were assured "the provider was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections", "that the provider was admitting people safely to the service, and that PPE was being used "effectively and safely".

The report also said inspectors were assured "that the provider was promoting safety through layout and hygiene practices" and that "the provider's infection prevention and control policy was up to date".

Regarding testing, the report said inspectors were "somewhat assured that the provider was accessing testing for people using the service and staff" and that "the service was engaged with routine testing for COVID-19."

It did say that 'whole home testing' conducted during an outbreak, was not being completed within the required timescales - however, the provider took action to address this.

Inspectors were also "somewhat assured that the provider was meeting shielding and social distancing rules" and the report stated that "people were seen to be sat in communal areas within close proximity of each other" and "dining areas and communal areas were not set out to promote social distancing."

It was also reported that inspectors were somewhat assured that "infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed". But the report did stay "staff rooms were cluttered with worn uniforms hung on coat racks with staff outdoor wear hung over them". - in a number of situations, lockers weren't being used.

In all of these examples, staff took action to address the situation.

The home wasn't rated by inspectors this time around, in 2021 they were rated 'good' - and this rating still stands.

To read the full report go to the CQC website.