Cygnet mental health hospital makes 'significant improvements'

The Cygnet Hospital at Godden Green, near Sevenoaks, Kent, has been rated good after an inspection in February. The CQC had previously said it could lose its registration and that it could have committed a criminal offence by not notifying incidents without delay.

Admissions to the two CAMHS wards were restricted to just eight, as a result of the CQC concerns.

However, a new comprehensive inspection of both the CAMHS inpatient service and a low secure forensic service for men on the same site has rated services as good across all five domains.

Inspectors rated the care of a young person who identified as gender neutral as outstanding practice as well as how restrictive practices were assessed and smoking cessation for adult patients, which led to a reduction in antipsychotic drug use.

Natasha Sloman, CQC head of hospital inspection for mental health in the South East, said: “Since the last inspection, Cygnet Hospital has worked hard to make the significant but necessary improvements required to ensure the safety and well-being of its patients, including changes to the management.

“I am satisfied that the hospital is currently ensuring the safety of the young people in its care, working with the commissioners of these services, including NHS England, to allow a planned increase in capacity on its CAMHS wards. We hope this will allow Cygnet Hospital to sustain the improvements already made.”