Cygnet Hospital Hexham is to exit special measures and has been rated as good following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March.
The independent mental health hospital which provides care for women with complex mental health needs, was rated as inadequate and placed into special measures in May 2019 following significant concerns about the safety and leadership of the service.
The service previously provided care for adults with a learning disability or autistic people. It closed in September 2019 and re-opened in October 2020 with a new leadership team to provide acute admission and psychiatric intensive care wards. A focused inspection was carried out in April 2021 in response to whistleblowing concerns regarding patient safety. The service was not rated at this inspection.
When inspectors returned in March, they found that widespread improvements had been made and the service can now exit special measures. The service is now rated as good overall and for being effective, caring, responsive and well-led. It is rated as requires improvement for being safe.
Brian Cranna, CQC’s head of hospital inspection, said:
“When inspectors re-visited Cygnet Hospital Hexham, it was clear that the new team and leadership were delivering good care to women at the new services provided. We found managers at all levels had the right skills and abilities to run a service providing high-quality care. They were enthusiastic and passionate about the improvements they had made.
“Since the previous inspection, a lot of important changes across the hospital have been made to improve patient care. Observations are now carried out safely, blind spots are prevented with mirrors and most wards are now fitted with anti-ligature facilities.
“In addition, permanent staff assessed and managed risks to patients well. Information on patient risks were displayed on boards in the staff office and were regularly discussed and communicated to staff.
“We observed kind and supportive staff who involved people in their care plans and treatment. They supported people to make decisions for themselves and encouraged them to attend activities within the community to help with their well-being.
“We are pleased that the hard work and strong commitment from all staff to deliver improved services has resulted in higher standards of care for people. The provider must now ensure these positive changes are sustained.”
Inspectors found:
- Staff had minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
- Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients and in line with national guidance about best practice.
- The service managed admissions well with multi-disciplinary discussions occurring between the providers central admission team and hospital managers.
- Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients.
- The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare.
- The service was well led, and systems and processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.
However:
- The service continued to use high numbers of agency staff to cover shifts in response to increased observation levels. Agency staff did not always follow risk management plans effectively to keep patients safe.
- The service had two patients on the psychiatric intensive care unit who had been there for longer than the 12-week pathway. However, staff were trying to address this.
- The service had not adjusted the bright lighting on the ward on an evening after recommendations in a recent Mental Health Act visit.
Full details of the inspection are given in the report published on our website.
Notes to editors
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