Adult wards at St Andrew’s Healthcare, a major independent mental health provider, has been criticised by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission, after an inspection at a facility in Northampton. The provider is now banned from admitting new patients to its female-only forensic and rehabilitation units, plus all of its learning disability wards, without the CQC’s permission.
Inspectors visited in July and August and expressed concerns about staffing levels, patient observations, and workforce culture.
It comes just weeks after the departure of St Andrew’s’ former CEO Katie Fisher.
In their report, inspectors suggested some patients they spoke to in the facilities, which accommodate around 200 men and 100 women, had witnessed incidents where carers fell asleep while carrying out observations. CQC chiefs also highlighted an incident where a patient on a medium-secure women’s ward was able to tie a ligature due to the day area being left unobserved.
Full story in The HSJ, 10 November 2021
