A SPECIALIST care home in Malvern Wells has closed down suddenly.

Abbey House, in Hanley Road, which provides psychiatric rehab and recovery for men, will be closing on New Year's Eve.

The rural location of the site, along with difficulties recruiting staff, were given as reasons for the closure by its owners, Priory Group, but the home was also recently criticised by Care Quality Commission inspectors.

A Priory Group spokesman said new homes were being found for the residents, and that they “hope” staff will be able to continue working within the company.

The spokesman said: “We are acutely aware that this is a difficult time of year to close a service, both for patients and the staff who care for them, and this is not a decision we have reached lightly. However, as a result of our rural location and the difficulties in recruiting the specialist staff required for this specific service, we believe it is the right decision.

“We have been working with commissioners and families to secure new placements for all the patients who need them, and hope staff will be able to secure employment within the Priory Group wherever possible.

“We will continue to deliver the best possible care to the individuals we support, ahead of the expected closure of the service around the end of the year.”

Abbey House was inspected by the CQC in June 2019, where it was given the “requires improvement” grade.

It was rated as 'good' – the second best of four rankings – for being caring, responsive and well led, but in the safety and effectiveness categories it was rated as 'requires improvement', which is just one grade above the worst.

The report into the inspection, published in August this year, said: “Medicines were not always being stored safely and recorded appropriately, in line with the provider’s policy and procedures.

“Staff were not being supervised in line with the provider’s policy and guidance and maintenance of equipment required to maintain patients’ independence was not provided in a timely manner.”

Abbey House opened in 2008, specialising in the care and treatment of men with mental illnesses, classing itself as a longer-term high dependency rehabilitation unit.

With 25 beds, the house provides short and long term rehabilitation in a locked environment.

At the time of the inspection in June, there were 11 patients at the main hospital and two in the semi-independent flats.

According to the CQC report: “We last inspected Abbey House in September 2017 and rated it good overall.

“We rated safety as requires improvement and good for effective, caring, responsive and well led.

“We conducted a follow up inspection in April 2018 and found the service to have complied with our previous breaches of regulation.”