Care home residents in Kingston were subjected to dirty bathrooms, low staffing levels, isolation and out-of-reach emergency pull cords, the health regulator has revealed.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said Bupa Care Homes’ Lynton Hall, in New Malden, and CHD Living’s Park Lodge, in Berrylands, were inadequate and must improve.

Chris Penwarden, whose mother lived at Lynton Hall until December, said: “We were experiencing on a daily basis lack of staff, little or no training, no one available to feed those who required it.

“We raised several safeguarding issues over the time she was there, but little improved. Rather than admit the problems existed they gave mum notice to quit.

“We got her moved and she spent her last days being cared for in a way she deserved.”

CQC inspectors said communal bathrooms at the 42-resident Lynton Hall were “dirty” and that in some cases emergency cords were tied up out of reach.

Chemicals and medicines were not always safely stored and inspectors noted “a number of staff engagements with people that were not positive”.

A spokeswoman for Bupa said: “We’ve worked hard and have made a series of changes within the home.

“These include improvements to our care planning system, reviewing all care and nutrition plans, and strengthening our medication management systems.

“The health and wellbeing of our residents is our absolute priority and we are committed to doing whatever is needed to ensure that high standards of care are achieved and sustained.”

Park Lodge had 17 residents when it was visited in January.

Inspectors said CHD did not always ensure the home was safe and that building works meant anyone could enter without signing in.

The CQC also noted breaches in risk management, quality monitoring and medication.

Staffing levels were down and paperwork was out of date, it said.

A CHD spokesman said: “The wellbeing of our residents is our absolute priority.

“The home was fully compliant in 2014. On the day of the inspection the home’s refurbishment programme was still in progress.

“We acted immediately to put in place a robust plan to address the areas raised by the inspection.

“The refurbishment of the home is now complete and we have reviewed our staffing levels.”

A new manager had been installed and the home had recently been commended by two families with relatives living there, he added.

Councillor Julie Pickering, lead member for health, said: “I am disappointed that the homes have appeared in the list. “But it is a compliance issue. I would be fuming if it was a safeguarding issue.”