CQC report requires EPUT to take "immediate action" following ward inspection
EPUT says it welcomes the report following a January inspection
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says "immediate action" must be taken by the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) following their inspection at Ardleigh Ward in January.
The trust runs the mental health ward for women at The Lakes, Colchester Hospital.
The inspection was carried out by the CQC following concerns about staffing levels and high rates of self-harm on the ward.
Serious concerns were identified, with the CQC urging the trust to take action.
The trust submitted an action plan to the watchdog saying they had mitigated the immediate risks to people.
According to the CQC report, inspectors found a serious incident in care records, that was not reported on the ward's serious incident log.
Ligature alarms were also, in one case, not responded to. Three alarms were raised during their visit, with one responded to, one unacknowledged, and one a non-urgent response.
The report also found that staff did not always manage environmental risks safely as "high-risk items", which included a discarded towel and bottle lids, were left in communal areas of the ward.
One person’s bedroom was in a poor condition and contained plastic bags and empty bottles, posing a risk of avoidable harm.
They also found that a staff member provided a person with a prohibited item, which led to them harming themselves and requiring surgery.
The inspectors also noted that staff said they felt burnt out and that the ward felt unsafe.
Four registered nurse vacancies and one healthcare assistant vacancy were listed at the time. The CQC says that bank and agency staff were used 432 times in the preceding three months, with staff sickness rates at around 17%.
The report found that permanent staff were experienced, qualified and knowledgeable about the people they supported. A permanent ward manager had been appointed and general nurses were introduced to support care planning.
EPUT said that they welcome the report into Ardleigh Ward.
The trust said it "routinely reviews and monitors all wards and services and alerted commissioners and other partners to some concerns around staffing at the site, and requested support for a rapid review of the ward to ensure that any issues could be resolved, ensuring the best possible care for patients."
An action plan was put together by EPUT, with CQC observations used in it.
EPUT’s Executive Nurse, Ann Sheridan, said “It’s important that all of us working across mental healthcare are vigilant to any concerns relating to patient care and that these are shared with partners in an open and transparent way so that we can collectively resolve any issues. We welcome the scrutiny that the CQC bring and are pleased that they have accepted that the actions we have outlined are now in place and that we can offer the best possible care to our patients on Ardleigh ward”.