A GREENOCK care home slammed by watchdogs for putting residents at risk has now closed its doors.

The owners of Sir Gabriel Wood's Mariners' Home announced their decision following the publication of damning Care Inspectorate findings revealed in yesterday's Tele.

In a shocking report the watchdog concluded 'people's welfare and safety were compromised' after finding dirty mattresses and seats.

They went on to criticise the home for failing to react to the pandemic and increase staffing levels and highlighted a catalogue of failures.

In response the charity Sailors' Society - which runs the Newark Street home - say they can no longer meet the standards of care expected and have decided to shut the facility down.

Places will now have to be found elsewhere for the 28 residents, while redundancy consultations are under way with employees.

Chief executive Sara Baade told the Telegraph: "With a heavy heart, international maritime welfare charity Sailors’ Society has decided to close the care facilities of Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners’ Home in Greenock.

"The decision follows a lengthy review of the care home's future due to a sharp decline in the number of mariner beneficiaries, coupled with concerns over the resources needed to maintain the standards we set for the home.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has placed significant added pressure on the home and its staff, particularly as the health crisis looks set to continue for some time."

Management have also said sorry in the wake of the severely critical Care Inspectorate report about the home, which looks after people Korsakoff's, Alzheimer's, dementia and special needs.

The chief executive added: "Both the trustees and I would like to wholeheartedly apologise to all the residents and their families involved.

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly, however in the light of coronavirus we are concerned about our ability to maintain the necessary standards of care that every one of our residents deserve. "

Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership has stepped in to find alternative places for residents.

The HSCP director Louise Long had warned earlier this year during the Covid-19 peak that local care homes would be challenged by the crisis.

She als told councillors she the HSCP had provided additional support to care homes in the area

The HSCP are now carrying out a series of monitoring and assurance visits to all such establishments.

Sailors' Society CEO Ms Baade said: "We are now working closely with the local health and social care partnership to ensure that every resident has the best alternative accommodation and care provision available and in the meantime will continue to look after everyone in our care.

"We recognise that this will be a very difficult time for the residents and their families and will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible."

An Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership spokesman said: “We are completing full review assessments on all residents in partnership with other councils/HSCPs to ensure that all service users and their families are supported in sourcing appropriate care facilities locally within Inverclyde if they wish to remain in the local area.

"This detailed work has already begun and there is currently capacity in the local care home sector to comfortably accommodate these residents if their wishes are to remain in Inverclyde."