Cygnet Health Care has been repeatedly criticised by regulators and has now had its leadership at one hospital described as “ineffective”.
The company received an urgent enforcement notice from the Care Quality Commission in relation to its Appletree Hospital in Durham. The unit provides services to female patients needing inpatient mental health care, including patients funded by NHS England.
The CQC report said the hospital had “ineffective leadership” and that it had received concerns from staff over bullying. It also warned staff were carrying out “inappropriate” restraint on patients and that restraint was used “as a first line intervention”.
Full story in HSJ, 25 August 2021
