Trust chief moves to SHA before critical report

West London Mental Health trust announced its chief executive Simon Crawford had accepted a position at the strategic health authority days before the Care Quality Commission published damning findings about the trust.

The report says inpatients at the trust, which runs Broadmoor high security hospital, had been put at risk by a failure to properly investigate suicides and learn from serious incidents.

The commission found the board lacked “vitality and vigour” and was “good at writing policies, but not good at putting them into action”.

CQC chairman Barbara Young said: “Given the nature of its services, the organisation should be leading the way in managing risks, yet in some instances they tolerated poor and mediocre practices.”

Mr Crawford is being replaced on an interim basis with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership foundation trust chief executive Peter Cubbon.

Mr Cubbon said: “The trust has already made progress in implementing a number of the recommendations and I am totally committed to working with the board to make sure that appropriate action is taken to address all of the outstanding issues.”

An NHS London spokesman said: “Discussions have taken place between Simon Crawford and the trust and they both agreed that the time was right for him to move on.

“Simon has for some time expressed aspirations to move to a different sector and will join NHS London to work within its provider transformation directorate.

“This also provides an opportunity to bring new skills and experience at senior level into West London Mental Health trust as it moves forward in its ambition to become a foundation trust equivalent.”

The trust cannot apply for foundation status as it covers one of three high security hospitals in England.

The failings were exposed after a report criticised services for patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

The report, by the Mental Health Act Commission, which was absorbed into the CQC in April, praised some “excellent” inpatient services but raised particular concerns about the treatment of women and children.

A CQC spokesman said: “Protecting the needs of patients detained under the Mental Health Act is an important part of CQC’s work, and we will continue the dedicated and expert work of the MHAC.”