• CQC criticises “outstanding” mental health trust for “unsafe” staffing
  • Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear FT pledges “immediate action” following whistleblowing concerns

An ‘outstanding’ rated mental health trust has been criticised by the Care Quality Commission for ‘unsafe’ levels of staffing and inadequate monitoring of vulnerable patients.

The CQC said an inpatient ward for adults with learning disabilities and autism run by Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear Foundation Trust “wasn’t delivering safe care”, and some staff were “feeling unsafe due to continued short staffing”, following an unannounced inspection in February.

The inspection into Rose Lodge, a 10-bed unit in South Tyneside, took place after the CQC received concerns about the service.

Inspectors highlighted a high use of agency staff, with some shifts “falling below safe staffing levels”, which meant regular monitoring of patients with significant physical health issues “was not always taking place”.

They said the trust had “implemented a robust action plan” following the inspection. The CQC did not issue a rating. The trust’s overall rating for wards for people with a learning disability remains as “good”, and its overall rating remains “outstanding”.

Inspectors have since returned to the service and a further report will be published “in due course”. The trust said the initial feedback from the further inspection has “confirmed there is evidence improvements have been made”.

In January last year, the CQC found the use of restraints on children and young people in two of CNTW’s hospitals in Newcastle had risen, and told the trust to review the situation.

James Duncan, chief executive at CNTW, said the trust has taken “immediate action” to address the CQC’s concerns.

He said: “Since the focussed inspection on Rose Lodge, and the immediate actions taken by the trust, the CQC have conducted a further comprehensive inspection across all of our learning disability services and we await the publication of their full report. We are pleased that initial feedback from the comprehensive inspection confirmed that there is evidence that improvements have been made.

“We are fully committed to ensuring these improvements continue and will work with our workforce and partners to ensure the recommendations from the inspections are addressed.”

HSJ Patient Safety Congress

A national touchstone and must-attend event in the healthcare calendar for those at the forefront of safety, quality and clinical excellence, the HSJ Patient Safety Congress is the largest annual event to unite patient safety leaders, front-line innovators, national policymakers and patient representatives from across the UK to learn and exchange ideas that will transform patient safety and standards of care

Patient safety is a field that never stands still. Practitioners across the patient pathway are dedicated to continuous improvement and improving the patient experience, ensuring equity of care for all and optimising outcomes. As a result of this Congress, changes have been made to medical textbooks and led to new research being commissioned. But more importantly, it is through this event that changes are made within teams and organisations that help save lives

Book your place now

Source

CQC report

Source Date

July 2022

Topics