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'Harrowing' care home abuse report published

More than 30 recommendations have been made in a Serious Case Review (SCR) in a bid to prevent a repeat of the "institutionalised abuse" which led to the death of five elderly people at a scandal-hit care home.

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Relatives call for 'dramatic changes' to care homes

The bereaved relatives of those who died at a Southern Cross run care home are calling for "dramatic changes" to improve care standards across the UK.

Read: Care home criticised for 'top down abuse' of residents

Jean Halfpenny, one of 19 elderly residents who died at the now-defunct Orchid View care home.

Linzi Collings, whose mother Jean Halfpenny died whilst living at the £3,000-a-month home said she was appalled and baffled by the findings of the coroner's inquest and called for home owners to be more accountable.

Speaking ahead of the Serious Case review into her death due to be published this afternoon, she said:

"How the corporate failings of Southern Cross could create these events and how such terrible standards could go unnoticed by the authorities for so long has left us baffled.

"In this day and age you expect measures to be in place to protect vulnerable members of society from being subjected to such horrendously poor care.

"We believe dramatic changes are needed to the current care system, starting firstly with greater accountability for care home owners if they are found to be making unnecessary mistakes and offering substandard services."

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