Vulnerable patients injured by 'inadequate' service

A troubled trust’s inpatient wards for people with a learning disability or autism have been rated “inadequate”, with staff criticised for resorting to restraint too readily which sometimes injured patients.

Care Quality Commission inspectors visited Lanchester Road Hospital in Durham and Bankfields Court in Middlesborough, run by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation Trust, in May and June.

They found most people were being nursed in long-term segregation and some patients had very limited interaction with staff.

Among the CQC’s main criticisms was of high levels of restrictive practice used by staff, including seclusion, restraint and rapid tranquilisation.

Inspectors said incidents were not always recorded and staff did not learn from them to reduce levels of restrictions in place. They also warned staff were not always able to understand how to protect people from poor care and abuse.

Karen Knapton, CQC’s head of hospital inspection, said: “Three people had been injured during restraints, and 32 incidents of injury had been reported for healthcare assistants, some requiring treatment.

“This is unacceptable and measures must be put in place to keep patients and staff safe.”

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Source: HSJ, 5 October 2022