Reviews for Dudwell St Mary Care Home

"Great place where nothing appears to be too much trouble. The residents come first, and the staff could not be more accommodating. The location of the home is ideal, with beautiful views over a valley, and the grounds are perfect for the residents to walk and enjoy. There are activities daily, and each time I have been at the home, there has been a great atmosphere. Can't recommend the home enough."

Ali R
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"I would like to send a huge thank you to the amazing staff at Dudwell St Mary for the most amazing, surprise lunch that they organised for our 44th wedding anniversary last Friday. It was such a surprise I was speechless. The table was set as if in a top-notch restaurant, flowers, wine, a banner and a card signed by all the staff, I was so overwhelmed that I had tears in my eyes driving home. My husband has been a resident at this home for nearly six months and has multiple health issues, but the care that he receives is outstanding. Each and every member of staff are kind, caring, compassionate, tactile (a hug, stroke of the head, holding a hand goes a long way). Every resident is subject to the utmost care and devotion, dignity, respect, kindness and compassion, almost as if it was a member of their own family. Thank you one and all for taking such fantastic care of my husband. I love you all. Dudwell Saint Mary ROCKS."

Caroline C
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"My husband was taken here two weeks ago. Amazing care has been provided to him as well as me and his family. I can't thank them enough and know that he is in the very best place."

Sue B
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.75 out of 5

"Mum is relatively new and was very distressed at first. The staff were very patient and made her feel safe, helping her to eat and ensuring she has enough liquid and nourishment. As a family, we feel that Mum is being well looked after and don't feel guilty if we are unable to visit every day."

Lynda M
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.00 out of 5

"Communication between staff and relatives is excellent. Everyone tries hard to evaluate situations and adapt accordingly to give the resident the best care possible. The food is thoughtfully prepared and offered generously to relatives who simply want to have a cup of tea with their loved ones. Nothing is too much trouble."

J W
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"All members of staff are helpful, welcoming, caring and professional. They have all helped to make a difficult situation much easier and taken a huge weight of concern off of our minds. Thank you to you all!"

M E
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.92 out of 5

"Carers are kind, helpful, friendly, caring and do an amazing job. They are quite often short-staffed and have not received the support from management they deserve for some time. Food is sometimes served cold. The minibus could be used more to take residents out."

Collette A
carehome.co.uk rating: 3.83 out of 5

"I was charged with selecting a home for my friend and after viewing several found the atmosphere and facilities excellent at Dudwell. She has been a resident now for more than three years. She has a delightful room. The staff are excellent and always welcoming and she has physical needs as well as Alzheimer's and the care has been first class. Some activities have been curtailed during lockdown but we have weekly garden visits. I cannot comment on value for money as her finances are managed elsewhere."

P N
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"I have always found that Dudwell St Mary Care Home is a very pleasant and comfortable home. The staff are always very helpful and quite happy to listen to any query one might have. I would be quite happy to recommend it to anyone."

H H
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.75 out of 5

"In the 8 months of residency, my aunts look well cared for, well-fed and generally content. They get on better with some carers than others. My heartfelt thanks for all that you do."

C D
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.75 out of 5

"Thank you for making a difficult time bearable. My mother sadly passed away the first week in October, the manager and staff whilst taking every precaution with regard to Covid-19 still enabled me to be with mum in her last hours and to support my father who shared a room with her. They allowed me to break the news of her death to my dad and to be there in his grief. On the day of her funeral, they were understanding and helpful and there when he returned with compassion and reassurance. Thank you."

N A
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.58 out of 5

"My sister and I had to find an alternative home whilst the family house was undergoing a big underpinning and my sister had been ill in hospital and needed to be nearer our nephew and family in Kent. Most of the care has been well thought out and one or two of the staff have been extra helpful on my wobbly moments. My room has a lovely view over the valley but there is no way I can wash my feet!"

K D
carehome.co.uk rating: 3.64 out of 5

"The care my husband has received from the staff has been wonderful. We are kept updated at all times and are so happy to know that he is cared for and looked after. All our thanks to all staff at Dudwell St Mary."

C B
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"Dudwell St Mary has certainly cared for my mother brilliantly over the last 6 months. She has settled into their routines and has accepted being 'looked after' by all members of staff. A very caring community."

H A
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"Mum went into Dudwell for respite first. We are extremely impressed with the caring staff and how Mum has progressed from not eating and drinking to now seems settled, eating well and happy as can be after leaving her home of 74 years. The garden view is fantastic which hopefully she will be able to enjoy next year. A big thank you to all the staff in these hard times and also for the garden visits."

S A
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"My sister has been resident at Dudwell St Mary for a few years. During this time we have found the staff both medical and administrative kind, considerate and very professional, treating my sister with kindness, dignity and proper care where needed. During the unfortunate virus time of 2020, we have been kept well informed with guidance and safety to my sister. Care wise, business has been excellent."

Charles N
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.50 out of 5

"Superb care, especially during the Covid pandemic whereby early closure of doors to visitors has proved to be an extremely good decision as to my knowledge, there have been no cases at Dudwell. Very helpful staff who are friendly and always happy to answer my questions."

A W
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.25 out of 5

"My mother was advanced dementia and is bedbound. She moved to Dudwell St Mary at short notice when her previous home closed at short notice fifteen months ago. Throughout her stay, she has received excellent care and support, particularly in these difficult times all very much appreciated. Staff continuity has been good."

H L
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.58 out of 5

"Under what a difficult year, the service has been excellent. Visits in the garden have been excellent in their organising. My only question was could a pod not have been organised early for colder or wet days. Anytime I have rung with worries or general questions, the staff have always been so very, very helpful. I thank them all."

Ann S
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.83 out of 5

"Originally I came to be with my sister who had been a patient in Kings College Hospital. As we needed the house to be underpinned, I came to join my sister due to this and the Covid pandemic. I have been in two different houses and usually despite staff shortages at times I am pleased with my life under this roof."

K D
carehome.co.uk rating: 3.64 out of 5

"Due to lockdown much of what goes on is not experienced. My sister has been a resident for two months only. However, what I have experienced is very good and I have no complaint. The only point to raise would be the activities to entertain residents? perhaps unable due to the current pandemic restrictions."

R S
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.17 out of 5

"My friend has settled well and the care team have been very responsive to her needs and any challenges presented since admission. I have been kept fully informed regarding her health and care needs and any issues of concern. My queries are followed up promptly. The care team, deputy manager and office team are friendly and welcoming whether by telephone or face to face. The activities team have worked extremely hard."

J B
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.88 out of 5

"Peaceful. Nice outlook. Friendly staff. Enjoy company and living in home."

Joan R
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"Very nice room. Hardworking staff. Friendly. Will explore garden soon."

Ronald L
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"Food, no complaints. Room, good views. Staff are nice."

Phoebe A
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"I arrived at Barchester Dudwell St Mary's following severe sepsis and have been nursed and cared for extremely well. The nursing and caring staff work as a good team, which makes for a happy and relaxed atmosphere."

Janet M
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.83 out of 5

"All our dealings with the home have been very professional and informative. Our Aunt appears to be very happy here."

Iain M
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"I cannot emphasise enough how impressed I have been with this care home. From my first visit to view it for my mother, the manager could not have been more accommodating to my very specific requirements and everything he promised was fulfilled from room requests to furniture changes and all done immediately. The staff are second to none. Not only in the genuine care they provide which is of the highest standard but also in the professional way they act towards me and one another. It is very clear to see that they are an excellent team and communicate well. On the second day mum was there, I phoned and said mum had moved into the home the day before and the person who answered immediately said her name and went on to tell me how she was doing. Very reassuring. The actual accommodation and surroundings are the best I have ever seen."

Carmel K
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.58 out of 5

"Placing a relative in a care facility can be extremely stressful and worrying, especially with the recent pandemic. My mum has advanced dementia and can no longer manage at home. She has been there for 2 months now and has good and bad days. Nowhere is perfect in my experience but the staff here are very caring, and I am very happy with the team and the environment. The staff are mostly consistent and therefore have got to know my mum's needs. When small issues do arise, they do listen and try their best to put them right, and the care is very tailored to the individual. I have had experience of other homes, and this is much better than any of the others I have tried. I am very happy with the care from the team at Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home"

Fiona M
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.67 out of 5

"Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home was superb in our hour of need. My mum wanted to move out of hospital for her last days of life. Her needs were complex however the staff made huge efforts to understand her care needs and give her the most comfortable, dignified end. Not only was Mum cared for but the staff cared for us too. Nothing was too much trouble. Having a comfortable place to sit, drink tea and discuss care needs was so important after being in an open hospital ward for two weeks. The clinical lead was exceptional, understanding our family's needs for information and providing it in a clear and considered way. The clinical lead and the whole Dudwell St Mary team are the best and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude."

Jonathan J
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.58 out of 5

"My mum went into respite just before Christmas and decided very quickly that she would be happy to become a full-time resident. The staff are superb with Mum, they give her the respect and care she deserves and they anticipate her needs rather than just reacting. I had been responsible for all of Mum's care needs and now I can enjoy being a daughter, still assisting Mum as I and she would like me to but I know that Mum is safe and happy whether I'm there or not. Cannot recommend this home enough. Primary needs are met to a very high standard and more than that, the home lives up to the company motto of celebrating life."

Michelle B
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.92 out of 5

"My brother, who was a resident of Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home from June 2021 and had severe Alzheimer's, recently passed away there in December 2024 at the age of 86 years. I cannot praise the staff there enough, they cared for him with compassion and understanding as he could be difficult at times. We were welcome to visit him at any time and we would enjoy the musical activities with him, often a live singer. The staff would spend the time to talk to him about his previous hobbies. He had a very pleasant room with lovely views over the countryside - the home itself is in a beautiful setting and we feel we could not have chosen a better place for him to spend his final years."

Sylvie F
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.92 out of 5

"My sister has been at Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home for over six months, the staff and admin have been fantastic. My sister is very happy and so much better mentally and physically since she arrived. Living at the opposite side of the country, it is great to know she is safe."

S S
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"My mother moved into the home in late June when she needed more care and has now become a permanent resident. I am extremely impressed with the home. The most important asset is the staff, both the management and care staff. They are so friendly, caring and welcoming. There is an overall happy atmosphere in the place. The building and facilities are excellent - there is even some air conditioning. There is a full programme of weekly activities, including entertainment and visits from school children. I give everything five stars except for "value for money" as it is so expensive, with an automatic annual increase of at least 5.9% regardless of inflation which seems hard to justify. Having said that, I am so grateful that she is in such a lovely home and send a big thank you to all the wonderful staff who work so hard."

J C
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.83 out of 5

"My father came to Dudwell with complex care needs. The team have treated him with dignity and respect. Our family are so grateful for this, as it has been hard to let Dad go into someone else's care. But we feel at home when we visit and know we can stay as long as we wish. We could not wish for a more perfect place for Dad to be. From the bottom of our hearts - thank you to all of the team."

N B
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"My aunt is a resident. The whole process of moving her in and settling her in was made so easy by the supportive and caring team. From initial enquiry where the senior general manager was so helpful to the actual day itself. Our aunt has settled in well and now is well-established at Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home. Her care is superb. Thank you."

M R
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"We visited our friend who is a resident at the home. We had a spare hour so we popped in for a surprise visit. As usual, the staff were welcoming and friendly. We were all offered a cup of tea and they found us a lovely spot in the lounge so we could sit and talk to our friend. We left feeling very happy that our dear friend was happy and being so well looked after."

D B
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.17 out of 5

"The staff are very pleasant. They are professional, respectful, kind, and patient. The food is excellent freshly prepared and nutritious. Standards in the home are very high."

E H
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.91 out of 5

"My father had excellent palliative care the staff were very patient with his fussy ways and accommodating and always kept me up to date. I don’t however feel the doctor from local surgery made enough visits and was dismissive."

Julia W
carehome.co.uk rating: 3.58 out of 5

"Every single person on the team at Dudwell St Mary was outstandingly caring, from our first day onwards. We couldn’t have asked for more. The team really cared for my father, giving him all the care, attention and support that both he and we needed. I couldn’t recommend the team and facility more highly for those in need of the care that Dudwell St Mary offers."

J C
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.08 out of 5

"Every single member of the team at Dudwell is fantastic. They show so much care and empathy, not only to their residents but to the whole family. We can't praise them highly enough. We took great comfort in knowing that Mum was being taken care of so beautifully."

Neil T
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.17 out of 5

"Mum needed respite care at short notice, and the management couldn’t have been more helpful at a time of considerable familial stress. On admission, the staff executed their process with considerable care and attention to detail, and we left the home very assured about Mum’s safety and comfort. Throughout her 11-day stay, she was kept comfortable in high-quality surroundings. But most striking was the quality of the staff. Nursing, care, support, estates, admin: everyone we met went out of their way to make Mum’s stay as comfortable as possible, which allowed the family to make the necessary arrangements at home free from worry. It’s invidious to single out staff members for particular praise each was superb. Those who between us we can recall include, excellent senior management; The gentleman in estates; nurses and the lady in care/support and everyone else who made this respite stay so successful."

Ray L
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.42 out of 5

"I was impressed with the care home's attentive staff and their commitment to residents' well-being. The facilities are clean and appropriate. Communication with the family is excellent and the experience has been positive for all."

E B
carehome.co.uk rating: 3.50 out of 5

"My mum recently has a hip replacement and needed aftercare, the home could not have done enough for her. Although we could not visit due to covid, through our calls we were delighted to hear from her about how wonderful the home was and she was very happy. The respite gave her confidence when she needed to go home. Thank you to all the staff you have been amazing."

J T
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"Very caring staff, friendly atmosphere. Stimulating environment, beautiful surroundings. Well furnished and comfortable room."

Julie C
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"I am so impressed with Dudwell St Mary Care Home and am delighted to know my aunt is getting the best care. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a care home for their family member; the team are very caring."

D E
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"Our Dad initially moved into Dudwell St Mary for a period of respite after a traumatic six months of ill health and prolonged hospital treatment. After his respite time came to an end he decided to become a permanent resident. As a family, we cannot fault the excellent care that our Dad is receiving. He often remarks on how happy and settled he feels and he certainly looks better than he has for a long time. Nothing is too much trouble for the Dudwell’s staff and we couldn’t have found a nicer place for our Dad to live."

Helen F
carehome.co.uk rating: 5.00 out of 5

"In general, myself and Dad (the resident's husband) are very pleased and happy with Dudwell. Warm welcome by the reception/management team. Majority of staff are friendly and kind towards ourselves and Mum. Sometimes I have noticed not all staff talk to Mum. Most food looks appetizing. Activities I am unable to comment on as I do not know enough, except that the Jubilee party was very nice and fitting for the residents. Mum enjoyed it. A few niggles, like would be nice if clothes were ironed and hung up in the cupboard to keep them respectable for the niceness of the residents to feel good in their clothes, rather than being ruffled up in the cupboard. Dudwell seems a happy place, even though, very sadly, Mum is not happy in herself having to be there. Dudwell certainly is a nice care home. I would happily recommend it."

L S
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.00 out of 5

"My husband has had two respite stays at Dudwell St Marys, one of one week and one of two weeks. I have had other experiences of care homes with my parents and Dudwell St Marys far exceeds those. All of the staff are friendly, caring and efficient. The standard of care is excellent and the facilities are also excellent. My husband enjoyed his stays, bearing in mind that he was reluctant before he was admitted. I would have no hesitation in using Dudwell St Marys again."

Clare G
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.50 out of 5

"I have always found this to be a lovely home in a peaceful and beautiful setting. The home itself is bright, clean and modern and the residents are well looked after by a happy, friendly and most importantly, caring team of staff."

Beck W
carehome.co.uk rating: 4.58 out of 5