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Safety Lapses Downgrade Mental Health Ward Rating
9 Apr
Summary
- Mental health ward rating downgraded due to significant safety concerns.
- A large hole in fencing was found, which had been used for an absconding.
- Staffing levels and incident reporting procedures were also criticized.
A mental health trust's long-stay and rehabilitation ward in Colchester has seen its rating downgraded by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) from "good" to "requires improvement." The inspection in November uncovered significant safety issues at the facility run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
Inspectors noted a large hole in the fencing, present for months and used for an abscondment, alongside a failure to adequately risk assess two patients. Fire risks, including a bin bag obscuring an emergency exit light, and broken equipment were also documented. Leaders have since implemented retrospective incident reports and increased staffing.
Further concerns were raised regarding safeguarding referrals, staff oversight, and incident investigation. The CQC deputy director of operations stated leaders were not always acting quickly on safety concerns, impacting patient safety and learning from incidents. EPUT's overall rating remains "requires improvement."
