Closure forced on troubled home

Leigh and Rachel Baker were both arrested after Ms Cox's death

A Somerset residential care home has been ordered to close immediately following allegations that a 97-year-old woman was poisoned.

Lucy Cox died at the Parkfields home at Butleigh near Glastonbury in Somerset.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) issued an emergency closure order following a "total lack of co-operation" by owners.

The decision was taken because "the welfare of residents was not properly safeguarded," a spokesman said.

Detectives arrested managers Rachel and Leigh Baker in connection with Mrs Cox's death on New Year's Day.

New homes

As the CSCI issued its emergency closure order, Somerset County Council said it had found new homes for residents.

A CSCI spokeswoman said: "CSCI had already issued a notice of proposal to cancel the registration of the home's owners, against which they had the right to appeal within 28 days.

"However, we were concerned that in the meantime the welfare of the residents was not being properly safeguarded and the staff were not receiving the support they needed.

"We therefore felt we had to take more urgent action and seek emergency closure.

"We have received a total lack of co-operation and commitment from the home's owners towards improving standards of care at the home since the CSCI inspection on 24 January found serious shortcomings. This could not be allowed to continue."

Miriam Maddison, Somerset Council's director of adult care, added: "We are confident that we have good quality care readily available, in Somerset, for all of the residents."

An inquest into the death of Mrs Cox was opened and adjourned in January.