Residents of a Sutton care home were at risk of being strangled by wires hanging over their pillows, a report has revealed.

Carshalton Nursing Home was rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission following unannounced inspections in September and October 2021.

A team of three inspectors found residents were at risk of harm. At the time of the inspection it was caring for 15 people.

A report published on February 3 said: “The provider failed to ensure the environment was always safe for people.

“We found cables dangling above the pillows on people’s beds creating a risk of strangulation. We found windows which were not restricted which meant people could fall from them. We also found water running at temperatures hot enough to scald and burn.”

But Anoop Joshi, who has run the home for more than 20 years, said he disagrees with the rating and is in the process of contesting it with the CQC.

The home was rated ‘inadequate’ in three out of five categories and ‘requires improvement’ in the other two – which related to whether the service is well led and responsive.

Mr Joshi said the cables dangling above residents’ beds are switches for their lamps.

He said: “We have had this type of lamp for 20 years. We’ve been inspected many times and it has never been a problem before.”

It was not just safety that concerned inspectors. The report said poor hygiene practices put people at risk of infection as clinical waste bins used for soiled incontinence had missing and ill fitting bags.

They also found people were at risk of not receiving their prescribed medicine and “unpleasant décor” in some bedrooms with bare walls and dusty sinks.

The report said: “These rooms were not homely and could not contribute to

people’s mental well-being,” adding people were “bored and unstimulated”.

Mr Joshi hit back saying: “The home is well known in the community we are a small family home. All our staff have been here for 15 years and we don’t employ agency staff.

“We are already fighting the rating and we are hoping for a rate change. We have submitted a 300 page inaccuracy report to the CQC and have invited the CQC to visit again.

“I want to make it very clear that our registration is not cancelled and we are not closing.”