A residential home for the elderly and people with dementia has been told to make urgent improvements to its standards of care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued a formal warning to European Care Group following an unannounced inspection at its care home, Sydmar Lodge in Hale Lane, in January.

Inspectors found that care plans for people living at the home did not always specify their current needs and were not kept up to date.

They also discovered people living at the home were not always protected against the risk of inappropriate or unsafe care.

Matthew Trainer, deputy director of CQC London, said: "Providers have a duty to make sure that the care and treatment they deliver meets the essential standards that everyone is legally entitled to expect.

“This warning sends a clear message that the issues at Sydmar Lodge need to be addressed as a matter of priority.

“Our inspectors will return in the near future to carry out another unannounced inspection. If we find that the home is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there."

A spokesperson from Sydmar Lodge said: “We have carried out a complete internal audit and a comprehensive action plan has been put in place. The health and wellbeing of the people we support is our top priority and we continue to work closely with the Care Quality Commission to address their concerns.”