Mental health hospital rated ‘inadequate’ by inspectors
THE Care Quality Commission has rated Field House in Alfreton as inadequate following an inspection.
The commission’s inspectors attended the specialist mental health service for women on August 14, and found a number of urgent improvements were needed. As a result, the service is now rated “inadequate” overall and has been placed into special measures. It was previously rated “requires improvement”.
Inspectors highlighted a number of concerns regarding care and with the way risks to patients were managed.
The commission also issued warning notices demanding immediate improvements.
The inspection was carried out as a result of concerns raised through the commission’s online monitoring of the service. Since then, the provider says it has updated the inspection team regularly on improvements it is making. Inspectors returned on Monday and witnessed a number of areas of improvement.
Dr Kevin Cleary, the commission’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health, said: “During our inspection of Field House we found that standards of care fell below those people should be able to expect.
“There were issues with observation of patients, a lack of cleanliness at the service and with staffing. There were insufficient nursing staff and they did not have the skills and experience to keep patients safe from avoidable harm. Bank and agency staff were not always familiar with the observation policy. We found that the service did not check or monitor that bank and agency staff who were completing observations in the correct way or at the correct time. After the inspection, CQC was notified of the death of a patient following use of a ligature.
“We found that mandatory training identified was not always sufficient to support staff to carrying out their roles safely or effectively and the service did not have access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients.”
Mr Cleary said it was also worrying that not all staff received a Covid-19 risk assessment, infection control standards were poor, and hand sanitiser was not available in the service’s apartments.
He said: “This is why the hospital is rated as inadequate overall as well as for whether its services are safe or well led. To ensure the provider receives the support it needs to improve, we have placed the service into special measures.
“However, since our inspection the provider has updated the inspection team regularly on the improvements it is making. Inspectors also returned to the service this week, and witnessed a number of areas of improvement.
“While this work needs to be embedded, we will continue to monitor the service. The provider knows what it needs to do to ensure improvements are made and, we will return again to check on any progress.”
A report of CQC’s October inspection will be published in due course.
Field House has been contacted for comment.