Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

79 Garrison Lane, Felixstowe IP11 7RW
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9.5 72 Reviews
  • Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home, Felixstowe
Mill Lane Nursing Home is located in Felixstowe's Old Town and is convenient for local amenities and shops. The home provides regular trips for residents in the home's minibus to the local theatre, on shopping trips or to benefit from the fresh sea air of the nearby coastline. Peace and tranquillity are also on offer in the well maintained gardens that surround the Home - a perfect haven from the bustle of the town.

The home, once a local doctor's surgery, has been sympathetically extended and now provides a selection of welcoming reception rooms with attractive patio areas. Mill Lane offers specialised nursing care for the elderly and has an enviable reputation in the local community for its high quality care. Bedrooms are fully furnished, however, residents are encouraged to to bring with them items of furniture and personal effects to complement those already provided so that their room can become an individual retreat.

Care staff are trained to the highest standards and chosen not only for their skills but also for their warmth, friendliness and caring attitude. Staff are constantly available and provide professional care that respects the rights and dignity of the individual.

Residents are regularly assessed to ensure their needs are met. Appointments can be arranged with a visiting optician, dentist, and chiropodist. Mill Lane has an in-house hairdressing salon that provides all the usual services plus manicures and hand massages. Catering staff provide delicious meals and snacks throughout the day, with special diets being catered for.

A dedicated Activities Co-ordinator is available for residents and can arrange for them to take part in as many or as few activities as they wish.

Family and friends are always welcome at Mill Lane and they value their involvement in residents' care. Above all, they promote individual choice in a caring environment that is free from stress or worry.

Care Provided by Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Respite Care
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Nursing Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 30 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Epilepsy
  • Head/Brain Injury
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Huntington's Disease
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neuropathic
  • Orthopaedic
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Speech Impairment
  • Stroke
  • Visual Impairment
  • Other Care Provided
  • Convalescent Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Jane Galloway (Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (22)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (4)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: No

Funding & Fees Guide for Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

  • Funding Types Accepted
  • Self funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top-Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding
  • Weekly Charges per Person
    • Self-Funded Residential Care from £1,300
    • Self-Funded Nursing Care from £1,550
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care from £1,400
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care from £1,600
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Visiting
  • Please call to make arrangements to visit Mill Lane.


  • Parking
  • Mill Lane has a limited amount of parking on site,


Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home Reviews (72)

Total of 72, showing 1-20
9.5

Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.525) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home has 72 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff are always friendly, efficient and caring. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm. The home is clean and well run with lots of extra activities arranged for the residents. Food is varied and good.

Reply from Jane Galloway, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your lovely review. The whole staff team work extremely hard to ensure the residents lead fulfilled lives at Mill Lane.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

No comments apart from lack of sufficient staff on the night shift 8 pm to 8 am. If they employ just one extra carer part-time from 8 pm to midnight, then my wife wouldn't be left either sitting on a full bed pan for two hours or left to sit in her own mess for two hours. She is only 52 and has full
mental capacity but the carers, all two of them like to systematically check all 27 residents in order. I have been told not to interfere but it is hell, my wife's bottom is very sore.

Reply from Jane Galloway, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I want to reassure you that my door is always open to you and all family members, as maintaining an open line of communication is very important to me. Your wife's comfort and dignity are our top priorities, and I look forward to talking further with you at our scheduled meeting.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

From the front door, all staff in all areas very helpful and knowledgable in the day-to-day running to a very high standard. Nothing was too much trouble to ask for. Excellent people skills and empathy for residents.

Reply from Jane Galloway, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your lovely review acknowledging the hard work and commitment of the team to ensure the resident's care journey is truly enriching. It is a pleasure to have your mother and yourselves as part of the Mill Lane community.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother-in-law has been here for 4 months now and we continue to be extremely satisfied with the care and support provided. We are so relieved that we no longer have to worry about her. We visit regularly and have never seen anything other than pleasant and professional attitudes, towards all the
residents. Our loved one is clean and tidy at all times and should you see a member of staff sitting down, it is because they are interacting with a resident. My mother-in-law can have challenging behaviour which has been minimised through the caring attitude she receives.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you, Joanne. Having your mother-in-law here has been our privilege and your comments will be passed to the team. It means so much to them to know their hard work is noticed.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum would have benefited from an ensuite but one was not available. The room required the bed against the wall and had to be moved each time to aid moving Mum. All staff were good and most excellent. Only problem was differing opinions on how often Mum's wound dressing needed to be done, daily or as
necessary (it didn't smell and was shrinking so wasn't too bad) I am an RMN and RGN, I think the staff guessed this. I last worked as a nurse educator in a graduate program in Australia. I understand all the arguments regarding comfort/choice/distress etc but it was difficult for my mother, her partner and my brother to understand. The staff all cared and that shone through, special mention to the lady who handled decision-making at weekends beautifully and appropriately. Fantastic GP who understands end-of-life care and its realities. A lovely safe place to spend final days.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your kind comments these will be passed on to the team. The wound was to be dressed as needed and this was recorded on our Kare system. We are so glad you see us as a lovely safe place.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

On the whole, okay.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your review; it is always good to receive feedback.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother received a wonderful welcome here from staff and they asked all about her preferences. Everywhere are smiling faces and willing responses. She has been treated with dignity and gentleness and her challenging behaviour met with a creative and kind response. We, her family, have been welcomed
and shown where we can help ourselves and our mother to coffee, refreshments etc. The management engages in a can-do attitude here.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you, it's great to have a review and it really supports the team to know they are doing a good job.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum was very reluctant to leave her home and was determined not to settle. The staff went above and beyond to make her feel welcome and cared for. She was soon joining in every day with the excellent activities. Visitors were always welcomed and could eat with Mum as well. As mum health deteriorated
the care received by the nurses and carers was outstanding. Would highly recommend.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you so much for your kind words, I will let all our team know.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Couldn't have better care for my husband.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for the lovely comment and great review. It was a pleasure to provide care to such a grand person and family.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This home has amazing staff who genuinely care for the residents and go out of their way to make every resident reach their full potential and feel safe and cared for.
The home is welcoming and homely and relatives feel cared for and supported too.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your kind comments. This means a lot to our team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father was sent to this care home for his end of life care and I couldn't be more thankful for this. The love, compassion and care they gave our father and to us was amazing and I will be forever grateful. It's a lovely home with beautiful souls working with it.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you so much for your kind comments, I will make sure all staff are aware , it does mean a lot to them.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would like to say a massive thank you to all the staff at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home for their kindness, compassion and care that they gave to my aunt in her final days. Knowing that she was being so well looked after gave both myself and the rest of the family a great deal of comfort
at what was a very difficult time.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you so much for your kind words, it was a pleasure to be able to support.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Mill Lane has had lots of staff coming and going. Sadly one of the entertainment ladies left but they all rallied around and still managed to care well for my father and others, a real family atmosphere. Shame that staff are so stretched and pushed every day but a very happy home all around.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your comment. We are always fully staffed to the correct levels at Mill Lane but it is a very busy role when you do it properly.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My husband has recently joined the nursing home and I have been impressed with the staff and facilities in the home.
All staff have made my husband feel welcome and when I visit, my husband is in clean clothes and looks cared for. If we need any help the staff are always on hand. The manager of the
home has been very supportive with my husband going into the home and she has also been supportive to me and our family.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for your kind comments, I will let all staff know.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Since my dad moved into Mill Lane I have been happy with the care he has recieved. I had concerns about how well he would be cared for before he moved in but all these have been put to rest. The only negative feedback I have is regarding the laundry. Even though all his clothing has been labelled, we
often find his drawers and wardrobe empty and have found him in clothes that aren't his on a few occasions.

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Sorry about your laundry experience, we have been focusing hard on the speed of laundry and hope you find this improved. If not please do come and see me.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The facilities within any nursing home are important but what really makes an excellent home is the staff and their commitment, care and love they show towards each resident.
During Mum's year, we were able to observe this first-hand. The activity coordinators truly care and show love and respect for
each resident. They know each one so well to support their needs. They made Mum's life really happy and that made us so happy too.
There are also others who quietly work to support the running of the home but make a huge difference. Thank you to the handyman who always manages to sort out problems promptly. The gardener, who keeps the grounds looking lovely - so important when sitting out in the sunshine. The visiting keyboard lady who encourages lots of singing and fun. The mini-bus driver, allowing external visits. There have been some amazing carers too who treated Mum like their own family - thank you. Keep up the good work - you really make a difference!

Reply from Suzanne Brindley, Home Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you so much for your kind comments, I will let the whole team know.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My aunt was transferred to Mill Lane two months ago from another care home which had closed down. The facilities and ambience of Mill Lane are much better than the other care home. We are very pleased with her care and new surroundings. In particular, the staff create a very warm and homely atmosphere
which is a credit to themselves and the management of the home.

Reply from Donna Owen, Area Manager at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

Thank you for taking the time to leave Mill Lane a review, we love having your aunt as part of the Mill Lane family. I will share your feedback with the staff.
Thanks again, and best wishes.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband was at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home for about two months before he passed away. The care he received was outstanding. We were permitted to visit at any time for as long as we liked. The staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and caring. We were always kept notified of any health
issues and the progression of my husband's condition. As his needs increased they were always one step ahead and ready for what he needed next. In his last few hours, the staff were exceptional.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Dad was only with you for a short while until he passed away in December 2022. The care and support given to him during his stay with you was wonderful. The staff were always very welcoming on our visits.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father was at Mill Lane for about two months before he passed away. Prior to that he had spent time at two different homes in assessment beds paid for by the Council. Although one of those other homes seemed more modern and swanky, the care Dad received at Mill Lane was far better. The nurses and
carers were extremely compassionate and caring and the staffing numbers meant that, despite Dad being largely bed-bound during his stay and in need of regular repositioning due to bed sores, the care he received was exactly what he needed. The staff anticipated and provided for the quite rapid progress of his condition. The food was well prepared and Dad particularly loved the home-made milkshakes!
Thanks to all at Mill Lane for the care and love you showed Dad.

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Current Review Score: 9.5 (9.525)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.5 (9.525) out of 10 for Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

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 4.525 for Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home is calculated as follows: ( (119 Excellents x 5) + (66 Goods x 4) + (11 Satisfactorys x 3) + (2 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 198 Ratings = 4.525

  • 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 Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home is based on 17 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 30 registered maximum number of service users is 6, which has been reached with 17 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.

Performance

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 5 Jul 2023

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good
  • Effective

    Good
  • Responsive

    Good
  • Safe

    Good
  • Well-led

    Good

Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.

View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (9)

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Meet the Team (4)

Nicki

Nicki Parsons

Job Title: Housekeeper

Joined: 2012

“Prior to my current job, I worked as a Travel Insurance Advisor. But, I wished to try something new and work in the care sector. I love working in a friendly team and helping contribute to making a clean environment for our residents.”


James

James Chester

Job Title: Maintenance

Joined: 2016

“I decided to work for Healthcare Homes as it offered a varied and challenging role. I’m always looking forward to seeing what the day brings with challenges and issues to solve. I like to tackle large projects within the home, i.e. revamping the dining area with a new preparation area”


Marc

Marc Southernwood

Job Title: Head Chef

“I was working in domiciliary care before my current role, but decided to go for it when the suitable opportunity arose. My biggest professional achievement has been bringing the kitchen up to a level 5 and maintaining it. I’m so proud of bringing home produce to Mill Lane including homemade bread, homemade cakes and dishes from around the world.”


Jane

Jane Galloway

Job Title: Home Manager

With over 30 years of experience in the care sector and an NVQ level 5 qualification, I am passionate about enriching the lives and experiences of the older generation.


Frequently Asked Questions about Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home

What types of Care is Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia & Respite Care are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

What additional types of Care does Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home provide?

Palliative Care, Convalescent Care & Own GP if required are other types of care provided.

How many Rooms does Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home have?

There are 22 Single Rooms and 4 Couples/Companion Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home?

Own Furniture if required, Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home to the centre of Felixstowe?

0.3 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.