Private hospital in Bradford placed in special measures over patient safety

A hospital for men with learning disabilities has been placed in special measures after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) identified “serious risks to patient safety”.

The CQC said it had also suspended its current rating of “good” for caring for Cygnet Woodside, Bradford, West Yorkshire, following an inspection in September.

The commission said it carried out the unannounced inspection following allegations of abuse by staff towards a patient, which are subject to an ongoing police investigation.

The hospital said it was “disappointed” with the CQC’s assessment, stressing that the inspection was triggered by its own management notifying the commission of a concern it had identified. It said the report “does not provide an entirely accurate representation” of the hospital.

Dr Kevin Cleary, the CQC deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health, said: “Our latest inspection of Cygnet Woodside found that the hospital was not ensuring its patients’ safety.”

Cleary added: “The service showed warning signs that increased the likelihood of a closed culture developing. This would have put people at serious risk of coming to harm if we didn’t take action.”

He said care was compromised because there was not always the right number or skill level of staff looking after patients.

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Source: Guardian, 23 December 2020