A BASINGSTOKE care home is being investigated after it was given a one for its food hygiene and told that ‘major improvement’ is needed.

Basingfield Court Residential Care Home, in Huish Lane, Old Basing, was inspected for its food hygiene on August 5 and given a one out of five.

READ MORE: WATCH: Escaped pigs cause havoc in village damaging recreation ground 

The food hygiene rating scheme is run by the Food Standards Agency, with inspectors from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council carrying out inspections of premises which serve food before rating them from zero to five.

Basingfield Court, which is run by Sanctuary Care, was given a one, meaning ‘major improvement is necessary’.

Inspectors found that ‘major improvement’ was needed when it came to the management of food safety, including systems or checks being in place to ensure that “food sold or served is safe to eat” and staff knowing about food safety.

SEE ALSO: Basingstoke driving instructor resolves dispute on how to merge at Brighton Hill Roundabout

Improvement was also needed when it came to the hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage.

Inspectors found that the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building were ‘good’, including having hand washing facilities and pest control.

Basingfield Court, which was rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2022, is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 52 people, aged 65 and over.

The CQC carried out a review of information and data on Basingfield Court on September 8, but said: “We have not found evidence that we need to reassess the rating at this stage. We will continue to monitor information about this service.”

It is not known if the data and information received by the CQC was in relation to the hygiene inspection.

The public is able to request to see the food safety officer’s report on which the rating for food hygiene inspections are based.

The borough council has been asked for a copy of the report on Basingfield Court but said it could not provide this because the home is "the subject of an ongoing investigation". 

The council's interim head of environment and community services Robert Draper said: "The council's environmental health team is working with the premises to ensure that the deficiencies found at the time of the inspection are rectified."

A spokesperson for Sanctuary Care said: “We were extremely upset by this rating and took immediate action to resolve the issues raised early in August.

"We have since been revisited and can reassure residents and their families that the reason for the temporary fall in standards has been identified and addressed. We are sorry for any concern this has caused.”