Northampton hospital rated inadequate
St Andrew’s Healthcare Northampton placed in special measures after CQC downgrades rating.
St Andrew’s Healthcare Northampton has been rated inadequate and placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its latest inspection in March and April.
The hospital, which supports people with psychiatric disorders, autism, and learning disabilities, was inspected to check on progress after a previous warning notice. Inspectors found that enough improvements had not been made, and the warning notice remains in force.
The CQC has published detailed reports on six services at the Northampton site. Most notably, forensic inpatient or secure wards and wards for older people with mental health problems have been downgraded to inadequate.
Wards for people with autism and those with learning disabilities remain rated as requires improvement, while long stay rehabilitation wards for working age adults have dropped from good to requires improvement.
There were improvements in some areas, with acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, and services for people with acquired brain injury, rising from requires improvement to good.
Inspectors found 22 breaches of regulation in areas such as person-centred care, safeguarding, management, safety, staffing and maintenance. The CQC said St Andrew’s must submit an action plan detailing how it will tackle the concerns immediately.
As a result of the findings, the watchdog has placed the Northampton site in special measures, meaning it will be closely monitored while improvements are made.
St Andrew’s Healthcare Northampton is required to submit a detailed action plan in response to the findings and remains under close review.