Review from D H (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Melbury is rated one of the best in Durham, however that was sadly not the experience of my parents. Staff (on the mixed residential/nursing) mostly clearly care very much but they are clearly understaffed so inevitably don't provide an overall consistently adequate level of care.
This, combined with

too many inexperienced staff results in inconsistent and at times, inadequate care.
This is a not uncommon issue to many care homes, but that doesn't make it okay as both the residents and staff ultimately suffer.

Reply from Clare Sheehan, Careline Advisor at Melbury Court Care Home

Thank you for taking the time to complete a review for Melbury Court and we are sorry that your experience has not been to the standard expected. At HC-One we pride ourselves on providing excellent standards of care, food, facilities, and a home well-staffed with well trained colleagues. We will discuss your concerns with the team to determine how we can improve in the areas you have highlighted. Please be assured that our staffing levels are determined by an analysis of residents' needs which is completed monthly or more frequently and monitored by the area team. Once again thank you for taking the time to complete a review.

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Review from Lesley H (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 January 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

Mam has been made to feel very welcome from the first day, as have all her family too.
Nothing is too much trouble, any problems we have had have been sorted asap.
The staff are all lovely and happy to help, but the agency staff sometimes are not great, and I feel they are not as trained as the

permanent staff. Quite often they can't speak much English, which is a concern.

Reply from Julie Caygill, Hospital Liaison Team Administrator at Melbury Court Care Home

Thank you for taking the time to complete the review and for your kind feedback; we are delighted you feel part of the HC-One Melbury family. We are working very hard to recruit further members for our team at Melbury Court and have new colleagues onboarding. We will share your comments with the Agency Manager to allow them to support their colleagues with training and English skills. We wanted to reassure you that we complete full induction checklists with agency colleagues to allow them to be a part of the team as far as possible.

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Review from L M (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 4 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My gran seems to really enjoy the experiences with animals visiting the home and it brings the lovely smile back on her face. I would like it if she was encouraged to participate in more activities as she will often just say no to things as for some time she has been withdrawn. The home throughout the

day always seems friendly, warm, happy with tasty meals and treats. I cannot review how well the home runs/staffed at night. Some of the furniture in residents' rooms could do with some maintenance. Overall seems like a good home with caring staff. I love that we can visit anytime and the staff always make me feel welcome.

Reply from Julie Caygill, Hospital Liaison Team Administrator at Melbury Court Care Home

Thank you for taking the time to contact us in relation to Melbury Court. We try to encourage our Residents to participate in organised activities. Please note the home is currently undergoing a refurbishment which has commenced on the Grace community, with a plan to complete all communities, which includes bedroom and communal furniture. Once again, thank you for letting us know about your concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Manager directly at the care home should you require any further information.

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Review from Gwyneth S (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 September 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My Mum has been a resident at Melbury Court Care Home for 11 months now. She has Alzheimer's and unfortunately is deteriorating. The staff have been amazing. They are so flexible and really take time to understand Mum, what she needs and how to make her happy. In addition you the family are integral

to the care. Every single member of the team there are first class. The team that organise activities do a great job. The team on the Grace unit are so good. It has made such a difference to us as a family knowing Mum is receiving the best of care and she is so safe. Our lives have been transformed since Mum went to be cared for at Melbury Court. I can't thank them enough.

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Review from Carole E (Daughter of Resident) published on 19 July 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

My Mum is looked after at Melbury Court. The staff there are all lovely. The home is clean. The carers are all really nice and show they love the elderly people in their care. The kitchen team provide some beautiful meals, which shows that they really try to provide meals that the older generation will

enjoy (well-done kitchen staff). Top marks go to the well-being coordinator, she is so dedicated to making her clients enjoy their day, she loves all her clients and aims to provide a variety of interesting times for both the women and men. She is full of new ideas. She is a huge asset to those in the home and your company.

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Review from Carol S (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 June 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

Mam only came into the care home for respite and liked it so much she decided to become a resident. I have found all staff to be kind and helpful at all times. I cannot express enough how much this means to me. Thank you all.

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Review from Carole M (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We had to make the difficult decision to have my dad made a resident of Melbury Court shortly before Christmas 2022. We decided on this home because of the reviews from friends that had relatives here in the past. The staff are amazing and have been very helpful and sympathetic in this difficult transition.

Dad has not been easy at times but the staff have gone above and beyond to help him settle in. Reassuring us and keeping us updated on his care. I would highly recommend this home to anyone. Dad has Alzheimer's.

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Review from P V (Son of Resident) published on 28 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Lovely, friendly place. The staff and facilities are first-rate. Faced with the difficulties we have all had over the past three years, the home has more than risen to the challenge to keep residents safe.

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Review from Ginny V (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 3 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

It has been three years now since our Mama has been in Melbury Court. What the staff at Melbury give us is something money cannot buy, peace of mind! We get phone calls if our mama has a problem between our visits, but the phone calls are few and far between. We know that she is well looked after, well

fed, warm and has entertainment if she wants to participate. There's always something going on to entertain the residents, as the photos show. We love it. Thank you to all who have a part in looking after our mama.

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Review from T C (Son of Resident) published on 30 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our mam is now a resident in Melbury Court, she has been in and out of hospital of late, and she has also been in other nursing homes for respite.
My sister and I wanted a good nursing home for mam, and we read the reviews on Melbury Court, and we both said this is the one. My sister did all the groundwork,

then she visited the home, and eventually we got mam a room there. The first time I viewed the home was when we were moving mam's furniture in, I was flabbergasted it was absolutely brilliant, could have not imagined us getting anywhere as good for our mam. Mam has been in for two months now, mam is very settled and speaks very highly of the staff, she enjoys all the activities and joining in with them. My sister and I have visited every week, and we speak very highly of the staff, excellent attitude to the jobs they do, they deserve a medal, they have been very good with mam, and we know she is in great hands. Thanks to all the staff at Melbury Court.

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Review from Dean G (Son of Resident) published on 4 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We moved my parents into Melbury Court at the end of October and are really pleased so far. Because mum and dad naturally wanted to remain together, they have both been placed on the same floor (Grace) and this means they have two rooms. One room is set up as a bedroom, the other as a living room. We

were able to move their two-seater settee and Dad's armchair into the living room - along with some small tables, chests of drawers, pictures on the walls and their own TV. For the bedroom, we brought their own bed and also a TV for that room too. Melbury provide each room with a personal phone line as part of the accommodation - I was also able to transfer Dad's subscription TV package to Melbury - with them installing a dish just for Mum and Dad's living room. The staff are excellent - both in the office, the nursing team and the activities team. There is a lot on offer (Christmas party and church service, monthly singer, weekly minibus trips out). Dad says the food is very good too. So far we're very happy!

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Review from Bev S (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

This is an excellent care home. It's a comfort to know my mother is in the best possible place she can be. The care is excellent. The staff are a wonderful team. The atmosphere in Melbury Court is positive and upbeat.

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Review from Clare H (Great-Niece of Resident) published on 6 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our elderly aunt has been a resident of Melbury Court Care Home for over one and a half years now, As a quiet, reserved lady who is suffering from dementia, I would just like to thank the staff for the care given to her with dignity and sensitivity. Her face lights up when the staff come near her and

speak to her respectfully! Sadly, due to her old age and deteriorating health she is now receiving end-of-life care which we are so thankful can be carried out in the comfortable surroundings she now sees as her home! The staff go above and beyond work duties in ensuring her family are kept up to date on any developments regarding our aunt's health and making us welcome 24/7 to spend time with her!

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Review from Sue A (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 21 September 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My husband and I are very grateful and thankful that my mother-in-law is cared for so well. Every time we visit, the home is clean, welcoming, friendly, bright and well staffed. My mother-in-law is always clean and comfortable. We couldn't have chosen a better home.

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Review from Allison M (Daughter of Resident) published on 2 September 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our lovely mum has been in this care home for almost 3 years and I have never regretted choosing Melbury Court. There is always a true family feel to the place and seeing how content Mum is when I visit or take her back, after a trip out, is truly heartwarming. We have been particularly grateful for

the wonderful support and understanding shown by the staff while dealing with the sad loss of our dad in June. Every effort has been made to take extra care of Mum and our family. The love and care shown to her on a daily basis is exceptional and this provides us with huge comfort. Thank you to all you lovely people especially those in the Nightingale Community. You are all diamonds and do an amazing job.

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Review from Tanya B (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 11 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

I cannot rate this home highly enough. My mother-in-law has been a service user since August 2016 and I have always found the staff friendly, polite, cheerful and more than helpful with any requests. The staff are always prepared to go above and beyond with anything to help out, nothing ever seems a

bother. The home is always found clean and tidy as is my mother-in-law's room and en-suite. Even during Covid restrictions when they must have been so busy, they always found time to give updates over the telephone. I now realize how lucky we were to find this happy, friendly home with availability at the time we required help and further care.

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Review from J T (Resident) assisted by family/friend published on 4 August 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

What a wonderful care home! The staff without exception were at all times friendly and smiling, nothing was a trouble for them. I particularly enjoyed going to the dining room for lunch and dinner, where I was invited to choose from the day's menu and was served as I would be in a good restaurant. My

stay here has been so relaxing with no worries. Everything was simply the 'best'.

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Review from R T (Daughter of Resident) published on 2 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Just an absolutely beautiful place, the staff are all so welcoming, the residents are well cared for and nothing is too much trouble. My mother has been a resident for around 2 months now and she couldn't be happier, she has settled in so well with the help from all the staff. Our dad sadly passed away

before he made it to Melbury to spend time with mam so the transition has been difficult for everyone involved. The staff at Melbury were so understanding and sent beautiful flowers and cards of sympathy, it made a very difficult time just that much more bearable. Truly magical place which is an absolute pleasure to visit.

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Review from Emma O (Daughter of Resident) published on 30 June 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We have been very pleased with all the staff at Melbury Court who are so caring and kind when looking after my mother. Her room and facilities are good and she says the food is good too! Thank you all for looking after her.

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Review from David P (Son of Resident) published on 27 June 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We continue to be impressed with the care and empathy shown by the staff towards our mum. She hasn't been well over the last few months and the senior carers have kept us up to date with any changes in her condition and/or medication prescribed by the GP/practice nurse. The staff are always happy to

see relatives and considering the effects of Covid are still lingering in the general population, they have done a fantastic job in keeping the home open for as much as they possibly can. Thank you to the admin team for arranging appointments, to housekeeping doing a wonderful job keeping the entire building looking great, to the kitchen staff continuing to provide good quality food, to the group of excellent carers - a brilliant team all round.

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Melbury Court Care Home

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