A RENOWNED care home near Petersfield has been swiftly and unexpectedly closed after a report said patients “were not protected from abuse,” and that care was “inadequate.”

It also said that some staff at Westbury House between East and West Meon spoke such poor English they couldn’t be “understood by people (patients)” there.

The 30-bed home specialises in care for adults with complex physical difficulties, and once the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report was released on June 3, it was swiftly shut.

Hampshire County Council adult care social workers and a CQC team arrived on the doorstep of the stately Georgian mansion earlier today, said one witness.

She added: “It’s being closed without notice, there’s social workers everywhere, they are trying to get the people out of there as fast as humanely possible, it looks like chaos.”

Another witness said: “They hope to move them out as soon as possible today if they can.”

When the Post rang the home, a person who admitted he was the head nurse, but wouldn’t give his name, confirmed the home was shutting, adding: “It was very sudden, it’s a bit complicated.”

The CQC report says Dr Usha Kumar Naqvi and her son Irvine Navid Naqvi run the home and are responsible for the patients.

As well as being listed as the care home manager, Irvine Naqvi also pursues a separate acting career, and has appeared on TV and starred in the West End production of Bend it Like Beckham.

He is currently playing the Sultan in Aladdin at the Prince Edward theatre, also in the West End.

Last June the care home was said to be good in a CGC report, and it was only after unannounced inspections in March and April this year that its status was suddenly changed to inadequate.

A CQC spokesman said: “We are taking urgent action in relation to Westbury House, West Meon, Petersfield, to protect the safety and welfare of people living at the home.

“CQC is working closely with Hampshire County Council (HCC) and other stakeholders with regard to the care of people using the service.

“While we are unable to go into further detail at this time, we will publish a full (uncensored) report of our findings in due course.

“Any action taken by CQC can be open to appeal.”

The Naqvis have 28 days to appeal against the closure, but for it to succeed, it would have to be proved that all the CQC concerns had been addressed.

A Hampshire County Council spokesman added: “As the registration of the Westbury House care home has now been cancelled by the CQC, our immediate priority is to ensure residents are safe and being well cared for while alternative living arrangements are put in place.

“Our care team, alongside healthcare professionals, are currently at the home, and in discussion with individual residents and their families and carers, to determine the best options for the future.

“This will result in residents moving to new accommodation over the course of the next few days.

“This is a very unsettling time for residents and their families, and we are doing all we can to minimise the stress and disruption, and to ensure the resulting moves are managed as smoothly as possible.”

The CQC report can be viewed at www.cqc.org.uk