1 March 2011
Trust not meeting six essential standards.
The Care Quality Commission has told Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust that it must take action to improve the care of those who access its specialist mental health and learning disability care in order to meet essential standards of safety and quality that people should be able to expect.
Reports published today have identified a number of areas for improvement covering the safety and suitability of hospital premises, care and welfare of people, cleanliness and infection control, staffing, respecting and involving people, and record-keeping.
A team of CQC inspectors worked in partnership with their colleagues from The Mental Health Act Commissioners team to gather evidence which formed part of the planned reviews.
During its inspection of nine of the trust’s locations, CQC inspectors spoke with staff and people accessing services, observed how people were being cared for and reviewed patient records.
Inspectors found that the trust was meeting standards covering the safeguarding of vulnerable people and the safe handling and management of medicines.
However a series of major concerns relating to the safety and suitability of the trust’s premises were highlighted as a concern as ‘ligature points’ were identified as areas of the environment which could pose a risk to the safety of patients who may wish to harm themselves.
CQC East Midlands regional director Andrea Gordon said: “My team has worked closely with the trust’s senior management team to look how they can swiftly address our concerns.
“During our review we observed good practice and spoke with patients who reported positive experiences.
“Our concerns around ligature points has already been assessed and actions are being taken to remove risks. This demonstrates the trust’s commitment to ensuring that environments in which people are cared for are safe.”
“We will follow up on all concerns and make sure that improvements are swiftly addressed.”
Ends
For further information please contact Nicola Stewart on 0121 600 5344 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.
Notes to editors
Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Care Quality Commission has a number of enforcement powers that enable it to act swiftly when services are failing people. These include issuing warning notices, restricting the services that a provider can offer or the way it is provided; or, in the most serious cases, suspending or cancelling a service. CQC can also issue financial penalty notices and cautions or prosecute the provider for failing to meet essential standards.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care for the people of the county. It provides both inpatient care and community services, with specialist community teams for Assertive Outreach, Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment, Child and Family Mental Health Services (CAMHS), substance abuse and eating disorders, rehabilitation and Support and Treatment in Early Psychosis [STEP].
The services are primarily based in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham. The Forensic service offers outreach work into the prison and community and has a low secure unit in Lincoln.
The trust provides services from 10 locations:
- Trust Headquarters
- Ash Villa
- Beaconfield Centre
- Holly Lodge
- Long Leys Road
- Manthorpe Centre
- Maple Lodge
- Pilgrim Hospital
- Lincoln County Hospital
- Witham Court
About the CQC: Snippet for press releases
About the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.
We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.
Find out more
Find out more about the hospitals of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.