Norfolk care home accused of waking residents with loud music to save money

Thomas Ryan and Clare Miller said said the alleged mistreatment of residents could have been avoided if the operator had paid for more staff. Photograph: Si Barber/The Guardian

Care workers at a private care home forced dementia sufferers out of bed as early as 5am and woke them by blasting loud radio music to save money, whistleblowers have alleged.

The management of Iceni Care Home in Swaffham, Norfolk, received repeated complaints about the practice this summer, as concerned staff said vulnerable residents were being treated as if they were “on a farm” in order to reduce the workload on daycare staff.