Care regulator publishes inspection report on East-Yorkshire based mental health hospital

9 June 2009

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today published an inspection report on the Yorkshire-based independent mental health hospital, Linden House in Market Weighton near York.

The report says improvements have been made in relation to concerns about the quality of care following an unannounced inspection in March. But the Commission makes clear that further significant progress is required.

Inspectors assessed the low- and medium-secure hospital against statutory requirements made last year. As a result, Linden House now faces further enforcement action over breach of the Private and Voluntary Health Care Regulations (2001).

CQC’s predecessor the Healthcare Commission had found in September and December last year that Linden House had not met requirements relating to issues such as handling controlled drugs, handling confidential information, staff training, staff levels and the adequate risk assessment of patients.

It consequently issued four statutory notices, warning the provider of potential legal action if it failed to comply.

At the follow up inspection in March, CQC found significant improvements had been made at Linden House in staffing levels at the hospital. Assessors felt this had had a positive impact on patients and nursing staff.

But the Commission found that the hospital had still not met all of the requirements detailed previously. Concerns included:

• There was no evidence of any suicide/self harm audits being completed within the hospital.
• There was no evidence that any supportive observation audits had been completed.
• Information for patients was not available for them in accessible formats.
• Not all staff receive annual appraisals.
• No evidence of current Nursing and Midwifery Council registration status for all staff required to be registered.
• Information on how to make a complaint not available in an accessible format for all of the patients.

CQC has now issued a further two statutory notices, taking the total served on the hospital up to six.

Tim Weller, the Commission’s senior enforcement manager, said; ‘We welcome the positive action that has taken place at Linden House but much more needs to be done.

‘We are absolutely determined to make sure that the company takes the right action on behalf of patients.

‘We are currently considering what further enforcement action needs to be taken to ensure compliance and will continue to closely monitor the situation at the hospital.’

The CQC’s powers include prosecution and/or cancelling registration of a provider that fails to comply with enforcement notices.

Linden House is registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 to provide services for patients with a learning disability or for people who have been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Notes to editors