cqcAn independent mental health hospital in Nottinghamshire has been told by regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that it must make urgent improvements to comply with national standards of quality and safety.

CQC inspectors made unannounced inspections at Annesley House, which provides treatment and care for people with mental health needs on 17 and 27 June and assessed five of the national standards of quality and safety and found that none of these were being met at the premises on in Mansfield Road, Annesley.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has issued formal warnings to the service in relation to the national standards relating to the care and welfare of people who use services, safeguarding people who use services and respecting and involving people who use services.

Inspectors found that the safety of patients and their mental and physical health was not always properly assessed or planned and care was not always delivered in a way which met people’s individual needs.

Additionally, some patients reported feeling unsafe and said that bullying was a persistent problem, despite efforts made by staff to try and address this. They also reported incidents of where staff had behaved in a disrespectful manner to patients, including mocking and humiliating people.

CQC inspectors found that systems in place to identify and manage risks were not effective.

Real concerns

Andrea Gordon, regional director for CQC, said: “The failings we found at Annesley House are a real concern. “CQC has been working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people receiving this service and we have told the service changes need to be made.

“We have been working closely with our partner agencies with regard to the hospital and we will be closely monitoring its progress on the improvements it needs to make.

“Our inspectors will return in the near future and if we find the required progress is not made we won’t hesitate to take further action where necessary.”