Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Concern over care of mental patients
lstafford@thekmgroup.co.uk @LowriStafford A psychiatric hospital in Canterbury is failing to monitor the needs of some patients adequately, says a critical report.
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found staff at Cedar House, Barham, did not always plan and deliver treatment in a way that ensured safety and welfare.
The unit in Dover Road is an independent hospital that cares for patients with learning disabilities and mental illnesses, including those who have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
When officials observed three wards in May they met patients who caused them concern.
One had a history of self-harming, thought to have been exacerbated by frustration about communication problems.
But staff were unable to find information about the patient’s communication needs in their notes.
The report, published on July 30, said: “The patient may not be receiving the care, treatment and support needed to communicate as there was no guidance or communication plan in place.”
Inspectors also met a diabetic patient who refused medication or blood tests. When they asked to see the patient’s care plan, staff could not find it on the ward.
They concluded that standards were not being met.
The report continued: “Care and treatment was not always planned and delivered in a way The Care Quality Commission has worries about care of mental health patients at Cedar House that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare.
“We could not always see evidence of how patients had been involved in the development of plans in place to manage risks.”
They said information about the day-to-day needs of patients was “difficult to find and trail” which made it “time-consuming” to establish what support they needed.
They also found that paperwork completed after incidents where patients or staff were threatened or put at risk was not always updated properly.
The report added: “We could not always find evidence that all patients’ health needs were being routinely monitored.”
But the report said hospital staff did treat patients with respect and involve them in discussions about their care.
It also said that, overall, standards of caring and protecting from harm were being met, and staffing levels were adequate.
Charlotte Nicholds, a spokesman for the Huntercombe Group, which runs Cedar House, said: “We regret that some aspects fell short of the standards we expect to deliver.
“We have accepted the recommendations of the CQC inspectors and have implemented a comprehensive action plan.
“Our priority is to ensure the wellbeing and appropriate care of our residents and we have reviewed procedures.
“While we were providing staff training, the concern was on ease of access due to staff working different shift patterns and this has since been reviewed.”
The CQC has asked the Huntercombe Group to set out how it plans to make improvements.
Inspectors will check if action has been taken, and take enforcement action if it has not.