We will apply for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC) for all residents receiving nursing care and if awarded this will be deducted from your fees.
The home have an open visiting policy.
Ample parking on site and disabled parking by the entrance.
Merlewood has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.641) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Merlewood has 83 reviews.
Review from R R (Daughter of Resident) published on 6 March 2025
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking time to review Merlewood, we are glad that your parent's move has been a positive experience.
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Review from P E (Wife of Resident) published on 29 January 2025
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to review the care and your husband's time at Merlewood. It was an honour to be involved in your wedding anniversary celebration.
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Review from S W (Wife of Resident) published on 28 January 2025
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for finding time to leave a lovely review. I am glad we met all your expectations.
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Review from J E (Son of Resident) published on 24 January 2025
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to review the time your father spent at Merlewood. We are pleased he enjoyed his stay.
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Review from Bernard E (Son of Resident) published on 21 January 2025
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to review the care and service we provide at Merlewood and sharing lovely comments and thoughts.
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Review from Wendy D (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 January 2025
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Reply from Claire Davis, Home Administrator at Merlewood
Thank you for your lovely review. We are so pleased that you are so happy with your mother's care and very much appreciate your taking the time to review us.
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Review from P C (Niece of Resident) published on 13 January 2025
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for reviewing our home and we are really pleased your uncle is settled and enjoying the home and all we have to offer.
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Review from A J (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 December 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to complete this review and to share your thoughts and experiences to assist others looking for care.
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Review from A B (Son of Resident) published on 4 November 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to review Merlewood. It was lovely to have your mum stay with us and a pleasure that she is now back for another short stay.
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Review from M B (Resident) published on 3 October 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for your feedback, I am sorry Merlewood appears to have not met your expectations. I have reviewed your comments. I am sorry that you feel the meal experience wasn't what you expected. I understand that you met with the kitchen team several times, we want to support you to enjoy your dining experience. Your concerns have been shared with the Chefs. Ongoing feedback is welcome. I understand your bathroom was checked as working on the day after your admission, an adaptation has been installed to support ease of use for the toilet/sink with no fault noted at time of inspections. Unfortunately the parts took longer than expected to arrive for the adaptation. I am sorry that your toothbrush plug does not fit in with the sockets in Merlewood and we are awaiting an adapter to address this. Home management are available to discuss any unrectified issues with you. I am aware you took the opportunity to meet our Director of Operations on 26.9.24 and provide your feedback.
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Review from R T (Resident) published on 24 September 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It was a pleasure to see you recover well and able to return home.
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Review from Nicola C (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 June 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for reviewing Merlewood. We are proud to treat all residents as family and enjoy helping celebrate special occasions.
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Review from David B (Son of Resident) published on 4 June 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for your review. I will share it with the team. It was an honour to care for your mum. We have been working closely with the senior team to recruit a chef.
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Review from Lorna J (Daughter of Resident) published on 29 April 2024
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to review Merlewood. It was an honour and a pleasure to care for your mother.
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Review from H K (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 December 2023
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
It was lovely to see your mother progress when she arrived. Thank you for taking the time to complete a review.
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Review from Fiona R (Daughter of Resident) published on 16 October 2023
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
It is always a pleasure to support someone's recuperation. Thank you for taking time to share your experience.
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Review from Jean P (Resident) published on 22 September 2023
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for your review. We welcome you to Merlewood and making it your home.
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Review from Diana C (Respite Resident) published on 21 September 2023
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for taking the time to review your time with us, your comments will be shared with the teams. The concern about breakfast orders were addressed during your stay as soon as we were aware. We will look into getting mirrors for a few rooms currently without them.
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Review from N A (Husband of Resident) published on 21 July 2023
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you taking time to complete the review. I am pleased your wife has settled well at Merlewood.
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Review from Les H (Son of Resident) published on 21 July 2023
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Reply from Debbie Vellender, General Manager at Merlewood
Thank you for your lovely words and comments. I am so pleased your mum feels at home here.
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The Review Score of 9.6 (9.641) out of 10 for Merlewood is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.
a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 22 Reviews in the last 24 months.
b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 20 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.
The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:
a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.
The Average Rating of 4.641 for Merlewood is calculated as follows: ( (189 Excellents x 5) + (53 Goods x 4) + (19 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 262 Ratings = 4.641
b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').
The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Merlewood is based on 20 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:
The 5 points available are broken down as follows:
i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 54 registered maximum number of service users is 10.8, which has been reached with 20 Positive reviews. Points = 1
When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.
Date: 22 May 2019
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Job Title: General Manager
Joined: 2013
Debbie trained as a nurse at St George’s Hospital Tooting and Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton in the 90’s. This was followed with over 20 years nursing in the NHS, mainly within Medical and Elderly care, working her way to the position of Advanced (Clinical) Site Practitioner at a large local hospital. It was during this time that Debbie’s passion for care of the elderly blossomed, along with the personal fulfilment of getting to know people in her care, and their families.
Debbie moved into Social Care at Merlewood in 2013 as Deputy/Clinical Care Manager to use her skills and experience in a different aspect of elderly medical care. In 2019 Debbie became General Manager of the home. Debbie gets huge satisfaction from leading a team of like-minded compassionate individuals; Merlewood residents and staff have become a second family to her.