CQC: Nottinghamshire medical staff suspended for four counts of assaulting patients and falsifying records

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found improvements were needed by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust following inspections between October and December last year, giving two services a rating of ‘requires improvement’. It has dropped from “inadequate” to “insufficient.”

The trust’s acute ward and psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) for working-age adults, as well as its ward for older people with mental health problems, have been closed following concerns about the safety and quality of the service. An unannounced intensive inspection was conducted.

After inspection, each service was given the following ratings:

Acute wards and PICUs for adults of working age: The overall rating has dropped from “requires improvement” to “insufficient.” Safety and appropriate teaching were again rated inadequate. Competent, caring and responsiveness are not included in this test and are still rated as requiring improvement.

Following this inspection, the CQC told the trust that improvements needed to be made to reduce the immediate risks. The Trust responded with a plan of action to reduce the risk of providing assurance to the CQC.

– Advertisement –

Ward for elderly people with mental health problems: Not only are they being taught safely and appropriately, but their overall rating has also dropped from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘inadequate’. What was effective was re-evaluated as requiring improvement. Responsive is not included in this inspection and is still rated as “Requires Improvement.” Although care was not included, it was still rated as good.

Greg Reilly, CQC Midland Deputy Director of Operations, said:

“When we visited acute wards and psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) for adults of working age, and wards for older people with mental health problems, we found a lack of oversight by leaders across services. What we found was alarming and we also found that the staff were not always kind and respectful to the people in their care.

“When we visited the Cherry Ward for the Elderly, staffing levels had been seriously affected as a result of a serious incident in November last year. A number of staff had been suspended as a result of the incident. , staffing levels had a significant impact on the level of care people received.

“A closed-circuit television (CCTV) trust investigation found that these staff were falsifying care records to make it appear as though no observations had taken place. Inspectors also found that working-age adults CCTV footage from the acute ward and PICU, where patients are admitted, was examined and found that staff members had assaulted people and caused physical harm. Two people have been physically assaulted on the Elm ward. The staff involved have been suspended and the trust is investigating the incidents.

“This is completely unacceptable behavior and the trust must address it as a priority. Leaders should better monitor the issue, keep people safe and ensure they receive the right care. urgent action must be taken.

“Since the inspection, we have told the trust where swift and extensive improvements are needed and issued notices of demand, so the trust knows where they need to pay attention. To keep people safe We will continue to monitor the trust closely while these improvements are made. If we are not confident that the improvements have been made and incorporated, we will take further enforcement powers to keep people safe. I will not hesitate to exercise it.”

Inspectors found in acute wards and PICUs where working-age adults are admitted:

• There was an inconsistent approach to recording people’s details when taking leave from their wards.
• There was an inconsistent approach to what documentation to use when recording isolation observations.
• Ligation risks were not identified and no steps were taken to reduce the risk of harm to people.
• Agency staff usage rate was high due to staff shortages
• Staff did not always share important information to keep people safe when handing over their care to others
• Staff did not always raise concerns or report incidents or near misses in line with trust policies.
• Services do not always learn from incidents.

but:

• All wards were clean and well equipped.

Inspectors were found in a ward for elderly people with mental health problems:

• The signature regarding the management of people’s medicines was missing.
• In some cases, sedatives were given at prescribed doses or against medical advice.
• There was an inconsistent approach to what documents to use when recording people’s risks.
• There was an inconsistent approach to completing charts that staff were creating.
• Some wards do not have private bathrooms, and three of the four wards we visited still had dormitories.
• There was no guarantee that people’s meal intake was being completed effectively by staff.
• There was no guarantee that management had timely oversight of data collected by staff about people’s risks.

but:

• Activities were being carried out in two of the four wards visited.