18% of reports centred around neglect, with physical and emotional abuse also common
292,356 reports of abuse were made in care homes across England between 2023 and 2025, according to new data obtained by Legal Expert.
These new figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), reveal an 18% rise in reports over the three-year period, with 90,232 in 2023 soaring to an alarming 106,772 during 2025.
The data is supported by a wealth of news stories in recent years – for example, an 88-year-old woman in Maryport, Cumbria, died in September 2024 after developing sepsis when care home staff failed to ‘properly manage’ an ulcer on her foot.
In Slough, a person was left unfed for four days by an ‘inadequate’ care agency, with carers found to have failed to take timely action on the person’s lack of nutrition.
Meanwhile, in 2025, a Dorset care home was placed in special measures by the CQC after an investigation that was initiated following ‘multiple allegations of abuse, neglect and poor practice’ – residents were found to be ‘experiencing avoidable harm’.
Types of abuse reported
Various forms of abuse were reported to the CQC, and by far the most common of those proved to be ‘neglect or acts of omission’ – 52,868 such incidents were reported during the timeframe, amounting to an astonishing 18.08% of all reports over the three years.
Reports of physical abuse were also abundant, amounting to 16,264 accounts, or 5.56% of all reports between 2023-25. Meanwhile, reports of emotional abuse totalled 10,935, representing 3.74% of the three-year total.
Less numerous, but still giving cause for concern, were reports of financial abuse, of which 2,690 were logged (0.92%). Sexual abuse figures were also low by comparison, but worrying nonetheless, as 2,011 reports were made (0.69%).
NB Reports are not directly equivalent to individual cases, as the CQC can receive numerous instances of contact about the same incident.
‘A troubling picture,’ says legal expert
Patrick Mallon, senior personal injury solicitor at Legal Expert, commented: “The figures paint a troubling picture of abuse on the rise in England’s care homes, which are supposed to provide support and living assistance to some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
“Whether emotional, physical or even financial, the damage caused by abuse can have long-lasting, potentially life-changing impact, so victims should not feel troubled by seeking accountability when a carer lets them down in the worst possible way.
“Establishing liability and obtaining justice can be an important step in a person’s journey to regaining trust and rebuilding their life, and it’s only right for us all to expect more from the care system.”
Dorset Specific 2020-2025
Data regarding safeguarding concerns and abuse in Dorset care homes since 2020 indicates fluctuating levels of reported incidents, with neglect frequently identified as the primary issue, particularly within residential and nursing care settings.
Key Data and Trends (2020–2025):
- Safeguarding Concerns (2021-22): In the year ending March 2022, there were 5,105 safeguarding concerns raised about adults with care needs in Dorset, an increase from 2,430 in 2020-21.
- Section 42 Enquiries (2021-22): Dorset Council completed 325 formal Section 42 enquiries (investigations into abuse or neglect) in 2021-22, which was a decrease from 450 in 2020-21.
- Neglect and Omission: Neglect and acts of omission were identified in 63% of safeguarding enquiries in Dorset in 2021-22, making it the most frequently mentioned reason for concerns.
- Sector-Specific Incidents (2025): In September 2025, Muscliff Nursing Home in Bournemouth was placed into special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following multiple allegations of abuse and neglect. BBC
- Sector-Specific Incidents (2022): In September 2022, Goldcrest Care Home in Weymouth was rated inadequate by the CQC after a staff member raised allegations of abuse, and it was found that medication was not safely managed. BBC
- Refusal of Compensation (2024): In February 2024, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found serious issues amounting to neglect at a Lyme Regis nursing home, where care records were falsified. Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Contextual Factors:
- Dementia Care Demands: Dorset has a high elderly population, with an estimated 12,000 residents likely to be living with dementia by 2035. Dorset Council
- Pandemic Pressures: The 2020-21 period saw an estimated 5% increase in safeguarding concerns across England due to pandemic-related pressures. NHS England Digital
- Under-reporting: National and regional data suggests that abuse figures are likely to be underestimates due to reporting challenges. Office for National Statistics
The Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Safeguarding Adults Boards (DBCP SAB) oversee adult safeguarding, aiming to protect those with care needs. www.dbcpsafeguardingadults.org.uk
If anyone requires further information regarding care home safety, click here.
