A PRIVATE care firm where inspectors found patients were left in pain and without medication has been reprimanded by the health watchdog.

Brooks Care and Nursing Services in Wickford provides care for more than 150 adults in their homes across Southend, Basildon and Canvey.

The Care Quality Commission, which undertook a planned inspection in January, discovered staff were so overstretched some were unable to get to their appointments on time, if at all.

One patient told the inspector: “When I don’t have my medicine on time I am left in pain.”

Another added: “When the lunch time call was missed it meant seven hours without fluid or medication. They forgot my morning call and I was left in my chair, I was in a right mess.”

The service, which has been branded “Requires Improvement” has been slapped with a warning notice.

The company has been contacted for comment.

A total of five of the eight care workers raised concerns about staffing levels, while the watchdog discovered staff were not given travel time between calls.

One care worker said: “There are not enough staff as we have to cover other calls which then leave us feeling exhausted due to how much work we have in such a small amount of time and not spending enough time with the clients.

"Weekends are horrendous as staff tend to call in sick. The other day I started work at 6.30am and got back home at 10.45pm - this can have an impact.”

The watchdog identified a number of concerns about the care, safety and welfare of people who used the service.

Inspectors found medications were not safely managed, care plans were insufficient and staff went without regular supervision.

While some staff told inspectors they felt valued by management, another care worker said staff are “looked upon as skivvies.”

The damning report also revealed registered managers were unable to demonstrate “effective leadership and governance.”

The announced inspection, which took place across two weeks in January, discovered a total of seven breaches in regulation. Bosses must now prepare a report outlining what actions it will take.