More than 40 care homes or agencies have closed in the past year after regulatory action by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which will get tougher powers this week. Skip related content
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The regulator issued legal notices to six homes, while in the other cases, owners closed or sold the business after the CQC stepped in, according to new figures.
Action was taken against 34 care homes and eight agencies which provide care in customers' homes. Alternative care had to be found for around 700 elderly or disabled people.
Serious flaws among the care homes that have closed include verbal and psychological abuse of residents, medicines not being managed safely, leaving people at risk of not receiving vital medication and lack of medical and nursing care.
In a further 51 cases, services voluntarily closed after they were handed a poor rating, without the CQC having to take enforcement action.
Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the CQC will launch a new registration system with higher quality sand safety standards.
The CQC will have a wider range of enforcement powers, including on-the-spot fines, warning notices and suspension of registration, as well as prosecution and closure.
New research has found that Britain is the worst place to live in Europe.
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