More than 400,000 people in the UK are in care homes, and the CQC spoke to staff, managers and residents in 81 of them.

Only 38% of homes said they got regular visits from GPs, with one in ten admitting they were having to pay GPs to come in and speak to their residents. A third of the homes also admitted they struggled to get the correct medicines to residents in time.

Director of operations at CQC Amanda Sherlock said, "Despite having a disproportionately high level of dependence on health services, this group appear to be more disadvantaged than the rest of the population in accessing these services."

Professor Finbarr Martin, of the British Geriatric Society added that the findings were “unacceptable”.

He told the BBC, "It is time health service planners matched their obligations to ensure that the healthcare needs of this vulnerable group are adequately met."

Because this is considered a low number, the regulator said that national conclusions could not be drawn. They did however say that both the NHS and care homes must address the issues raised.