19.02.2015

Major Concerns Raised Regarding Care At Mental Health Trust

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has become the first mental health trust in England to be placed in special measures, after it was given an overall rating of inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this month.
 
An inspection by the CQC highlighted a range of issues including concerns regarding the safety of services, staffing at the trust’s sites and general leadership at the organisation.
 
Health sector regulator Monitor has stated that the trust has been placed in special measures in order to ensure that support is provided which will allow the body to address the issues it has faced.
 
Katherine Cawley, regional director at Monitor, said: “Patients in Norfolk and Suffolk deserve to receive the highest possible care, and so the failings that the CQC has identified in the trust’s services are disappointing.
 
“We are pleased that the trust has already started to address some of the issues raised by the CQC, but much more needs to be done.”

Expert Opinion

It is incredibly worrying to see issues get to such an extent that Monitor has been left with little choice but to place the trust in special measures. <br/> <br/>"The key priority at this stage must be to ensure that services and standards at the trust are improved quickly, with a view to ensuring patients are able to access the safe and high-quality care that they deserve. <br/> <br/>"Through our work acting for those affected by issues at this trust, we have heard very serious concerns and it is vital that every effort is made to ensure that the safety of patients comes first." Guy Forster - Partner