A CARE home is not always safe and must improve its services, according to health inspectors.

Milford House in Milford Mill Road, Salisbury, currently cares for 67 people, including those with dementia, learning disabilities, autism and older people.

After a surprise inspection in July, inspectors said staff were hard to find when residents needed help.

The inspector said most residents and their relatives were positive about their care and said they felt safe.

But medicines needed to be managed better “to fully protect people”, as some drugs were left unattended during nurses’ rounds.

Some areas of the home had not been cleaned, while some residents were not always given enough to eat and drink, and those who needed help at meal times did not always receive it.

Inspectors said the weather had been “very hot” during the two-day inspection, but not everyone was offered extra drinks to keep them hydrated.

And at times people were left without assistance due to there being no staff available, the report said.

Most people were treated in a “kind and caring way” and staff were “friendly, polite and respectful”, although “staff did not always treat people with dignity and respect”, according to the report.

Milford House was told it must improve in four out five categories: safety, effectiveness, care and good leadership. It was rated good for responsiveness.

A spokesman for the firm at runs the home, Barchester Healthcare, said: “We take the findings of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) very seriously and we are working to address the findings of the report.

“We were heartened to read that people and their relatives were positive about the care they received and said staff had sufficient knowledge to provide support and keep them safe.

“It was also good to note that the CQC felt that staff received regular training in relation to their role and the people they supported.

“We have already put changes in place to address a number of the points that were raised in the report and we will continue to further improve the care we provide to our residents and their families.”