CQC rates two services at Gateshead hospital trust as ‘Requires Improvement’

CQC has rated the community mental health services for older people provided by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust as Requires Improvement and wards for older people with mental problems as Inadequate following a December 2016 inspection.

Since these services were not inspected as part of the trust’s comprehensive inspection in 2015, it continues to be rated as Good overall.

Cragside Court and Sunniside Unit, both wards for older people with mental health problems based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead and community mental health services for older people in Central and East Gateshead, were inspected.

Dr Paul Lelliott, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: “Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust provides both community and ward based mental health services for older people across Gateshead. We have significant concern that these services aren’t as safe as they should be or effective enough for the people using them.

“We are most worried about Cragside Court and Sunniside Unit, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. These wards had not been adapted to meet the needs of older people or for those living with dementia. The layout of these wards did also not enable staff to see all areas and staff had not fully checked for fixtures that might prove hazardous to older people at risk of self-harm.

“The trust had not regularly assessed risk for each individual patient and the wards were overly restrictive. Staff did not provide activities for people on evenings or weekends and placed blanket restrictions on them. For example, people could not make their own hot drinks and snacks nor could they lock their bedroom doors.

“Nurses in the community mental health services for older people had to use a patient record system that was not fit for purpose. The system did not support them to deliver safe or effective patient care and was potentially putting people at risk of harm. We have told the trust where they must improve and we will inspect again to ensure they have made the changes we have told them to.”

The CQC has told the trust it must make improvements on its wards including ensuring environmental risk assessments are completed for each room, reviewing blanket restrictions, making care plans reflective of the individual’s needs and ensuring that there are enough personal alarms for all members of staff.