Mental Unit Fails Patients: Outdated Meds & Crying Dismissed

A private mental health unit in Oldham, Cygnet Kenney House, has received a formal warning from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for failing to meet safety regulations. The inspection in September revealed critical issues, including the administration of expired medications and a lack of suitably qualified staff to ensure patient safety.

During the assessment, patients on the Harben ward reported not feeling safe and experiencing unhelpful staff responses, with one instance of a distressed patient being told to "stop crying." Similar concerns were noted on other wards regarding medication management and extended observation periods for staff.

In response to the CQC's findings, Cygnet Kenney House stated that a comprehensive improvement plan is now in place. This plan specifically targets improvements in ligature risk management, medication handling, and staff training to address the identified deficiencies and ensure better patient care.