The owner of a Haverhill care home that was placed in special measures more than a year ago has said a lack of re-inspection is "killing" her business. The Swallows Residential Care Home was visited by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors on January 9, 2023, and rated inadequate, placing it in special measures. A report published in March 2023 stated the CQC would "keep the service under review" and "re-inspect within six months" but, some 16 months later, a re-inspection has not been carried out.
Donna Burrows, who owns The Swallows with her husband Harold, said this is damaging the business, particularly as they are forced to display the rating on the home's website. "It is killing my business, I am desperate," she said. "I have worked so hard, myself and my husband.
I just don't know where to turn now. "I sent them the action plan and everything and we have been patiently waiting for them to come back, but I can't wait any longer. "When people go and check on our website and see inadequate they wouldn't touch us with a barge pole.
" Mrs Burrows, who comes from Guyana, said her husband, who is from Barbados and is part of the Windrush generation, is broken-hearted over the issue. Tom Cooper, consultant at The Care Standards Consultancy, which represents The Swallows care home, said Mrs Burrows has received two emails from the CQC since the report was published. He called the time lapsed since the inspection a "lack of oversight" by the CQC and said the residents of the h.