The Care Quality Commission has called for further improvements to be made on a ward at a south-west London mental health trust.
Ward 2 at Springfield University Hospital, an acute ward for adults of working age, is part of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
CQC inspectors found that:
Staffing levels on the ward were not sufficient to ensure patient safety or to ensure that patients’ needs were met.
Patients reported that they would like more interaction with staff on the ward.
Further improvements to potential high risk ligature points were required.
Medicines were stored at the incorrect temperature.
Staff did not always ensure that male patients were prevented from entering the female part of the ward unobserved by staff.
Patients’ care plans did not record that patients had been involved in their development.
However, inspectors also found the following areas of good practice:
- The ward was in the process of introducing the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA). The DASA is an assessment tool to assist in the prediction of violence and aggression.
- Patients told us that staff were caring and compassionate and that they were listened to and involved in their care and treatment.
- Risk assessments for patients were thorough and detailed. The multi-disciplinary team used a RAG rating (red, amber, green) system to indicate the level of risk regarding clients.
The new ward manager had a positive impact on the staff team and quality of care on the ward.
This was an unannounced focused inspection of one ward. CQC has not revised the ratings for the trust, which remains Good overall.
You can read the report in full on our website.
Paul Lelliott, Deputy Chief Inspector (lead for mental health), said:
“CQC has rated South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust as Good overall. However, there is always room for improvement and Ward 2 at Springfield University Hospital is a case in point. Although there is no rating attached to the latest inspection report there are areas where improvements could be made.”
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