‘Patient’s rights compromised’
A VULNERABLE mental health patient was unable to leave a locked rehabilitation unit for nearly a year after she was ready to be discharged, an investigation has found.
The patient, known as Ms A, made a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales about the care she received from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
She was detained under the Mental Health Act in October 2015 but later moved to a secure hospital in England to be closer to her family.
In March 2016 she was discharged and allowed to leave the hospital, but agreed to remain there on a voluntary basis while aftercare and supported accommodation were arranged. But Ms A remained in the hospital until February 2017 due to delays in Cardiff and Vale UHB – which was the body responsible for her care – arranging these services.
In that time, she reported being physically attacked by other patients at the hospital.
Commenting on the report, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, Nick Bennett, said: “I find it particularly disheartening that Ms A was significantly let down by health services at a pivotal time in her mental health recovery. She remained on a locked ward with detained patients when she should have been progressing with her recovery and establishing her independence.
“This unacceptable situation continued for almost a year. She was targeted by other patients, during her stay as an informal patient, and sadly the health board failed to provide her with a safe environment during this period.
“I believe Ms A’s human rights were compromised by the failings identified.”
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services in Wales and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to raise the issue of cross border care.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Rob Behrens said: “Keeping someone detained for reasons of bureaucracy is a breach of human rights and shows a complete lack of care.
“The NHS in Wales and England must work together to produce joint guidance on supporting vulnerable mental health patients who transfer from one country to another in the UK, to ensure this does not happen again.”
It was concluded that Cardiff and Vale UHB failed in providing Ms A with aftercare, appropriate supported accommodation and a referral to the community mental health team (CMHT) in England.
The CMHT would not accept the referral from the health board until Ms A was registered with a local GP, was discharged from the hospital, and had a local residential address. The health board has agreed to a number of recommendations, including providing a written apology to Ms A for the failings identified.
A spokesman for Cardiff and Vale Health Board said: “We fully recognise our responsibility in supporting Ms A to move to her chosen residence in a timely manner. We accept that while some delays were due to cross-border issues, we have identified the areas where we could have been more efficient and timely.”