A CARE home has been branded inadequate by inspectors.

Operator Bupa announced last month that the Hillview Care Home, in Eston, Middlesbrough, which has just under 50 residents, was to shut.

The move was criticised by Redcar and Cleveland Council which said it was extremely disappointed by the closure.

Now a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has revealed that whistleblowers contacted the organisation to express concern about residents’ care.

The CQC said it carried out an inspection over three days and found that “people were left in bed throughout each day”.

It also said one person had been left on the toilet for three hours.

Inspectors said there were gaps in care records, while people had been bathed at unsafe water temperatures.

The CQC also identified insufficient staff at work on the first floor of the building.

Aileen Waton, managing director for Bupa UK Care Services in Scotland and the North, said: “We do not tolerate poor standards and are disappointed by this report.

“After an internal review, we took the difficult decision to close Hillview last month.

“We’re now working closely with the local authority and NHS partners to help minimise disruption and assist residents in finding a suitable new home.”