A SENIOR health inspector has lambasted a care home for failing to meet the basic needs of the people it looks after.

Health watchdog inspector Debbie Westhead said residents had been let down by the company running Duchess Gardens Care Centre in Bingley.

"People are entitled to services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care - and Elder Homes Bradford Limited has let them down," said Ms Westhead, the deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the North.

"The provider is failing to meet the basic needs of people living at the home and has failed to make the improvements required as a result of our previous inspection."

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is now considering further enforcement action.

Its inspectors made surprise visits to the home in January and February this year, when 54 people were being cared for.

Three previous inspections in 2013 and 2104 found concerns about the handling of medicines and a warning notice was issued in April 2014.

A follow-up in inspection in July 2014 found there were still problems and the company was invited to a formal interview to explain what action it had taken, but declined.

It was not until after a further inspection in January 2015, that the company wrote to the CQC about the matter.

The company has been told the Lady Lane home must make improvements after being found inadequate in providing care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive or well led.

The CQC found there were not enough suitably qualified nursing staff on duty at all times, medicine was also not properly distributed and its use properly recorded, despite a previous warning.

It said although there were times when staff showed kindness, people were not always treated with respect and dignity.

One resident's furniture was spattered with dried food and his mouth had also not been cleaned of congealed food. Staff did not use the right name when speaking to one resident, another had to wipe his nose on his sleeve and one person was given tablets to chew, despite his teeth not being in.

It said there were times when staff showed kindness, but added: "However, we also observed practices which showed a lack of respect for people and undermined their dignity."

Staff also told the inspectors that people were paying for their own fish and chips when these were served as the main meal of the day and one lunch time there were no chairs in the dining room.

Ms Westhead said: "We have told the provider that they must take action to resolve the issues we have identified as a priority and we are monitoring the situation closely in liaison with the local authority to ensure people are safe from any immediate risk."

A spokesman for Elder Homes said management and staff at the home had worked "tirelessly" with the support of the group to correct the findings and improve care.

"We are pleased to say we now have the right management team and experienced staff in place that will take this service from strength-to-strength as we develop this service further," he said.

Bradford Council said it was aware of the issues and working with the care home to address them.