- Independent mental health service
St Neots Neurological Centre
Assessment report published 10 April 2026
Contents
Ratings - Long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults
Our view of the service
St Neots Hospital provides long stay and rehabilitation wards for adults with progressive neurological conditions or acquired brain injury, including those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. It specialises in caring for patients with complex mental and physical health needs, including patients at the latter stages of their diagnosis.
The hospital has 38 inpatient beds across 4 wards and offers psychiatry, psychology, rehabilitation, and wellbeing therapies. At the time of this inspection, there were 30 patients and 6 of these were detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
St Neots Neurological Centre is registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for:
Assessment and medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Treatment for Disease, Disorder, and Injury.
The provider had a registered manager and controlled drugs accountable officer.
We carried out an assessment of St Neots Neurological Centre on 3rd and 4th February 2026. We inspected the service due to an aged rating and visited all 4 wards. This service was last inspected in February 2023 and was issued Requirement notices under:
Regulation 9 HSCA(RA) Regulations 2014 Person-centred care
Regulation 12 HSCA(RA) Safe care and treatment
Regulation 17 HSCA(RA) Regulations 2014 Good governance
At the last inspection we rated the service as Requires Improvement. At this assessment we rated the service as good. The service had made improvements and is no longer in breach of regulations
During this inspection, we looked at the ward environments and clinic rooms within the hospital and observed interactions between staff and patients. We reviewed patient care records and prescription charts, as well as minutes from various meetings, alongside relevant policies, procedures, and documentation relating to the operation of the service.
Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance
Mental Health Act
The service admitted patients under the Mental Health Act 1983. Staff received and kept up to date with training on the Mental Health Act and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice with 96% of staff having completed up to date training.
Staff had easy access to administrative support and legal advice on implementation of the Mental Health Act and its Code of Practice. Staff knew who their Mental Health Act administrators were.
The provider had relevant policies and procedures that reflected the most recent guidance.
Staff had easy access to local Mental Health Act policies and procedures and to the Code of Practice.
Patients had easy access to information about independent mental health advocacy. The independent advocate visited weekly.
Staff explained to patients their rights under the Mental Health Act in a way that they could understand, repeated it as required and recorded that they had done it.
Staff ensured that patients were able to take Section 17 leave (permission for patients to leave hospital) when this has been granted.
Staff stored copies of patients' detention papers and associated records (for example, Section 17 leave forms) correctly and so that they were available to all staff that needed access to them.
The service displayed a notice to tell informal patients that they could leave the ward freely.
Mental Capacity Act
Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, in particular the five statutory principles.
Staff received and kept up to date with training in the Mental Capacity Act. Staff were required to complete competencies and mandatory training on the Mental Capacity Act. At the time of inspection, the mandatory training compliance rate was 94%.
There were 22 Deprivation of Liberty safeguards applications made in the last 12 months. Deprivation of Liberty safeguards (DoLS) are a legal framework in England and Wales designed to protect individuals lacking mental capacity who are confined in care homes or hospitals, ensuring their freedom is not unfairly restricted.
The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, including deprivation of liberty safeguards. Staff were aware of the policy and had access to it.
Staff knew where to get advice from within the provider regarding the Mental Capacity Act, including deprivation of liberty safeguards.
Staff took all practical steps to enable patients to make their own decisions.
For patients who might have impaired mental capacity, staff assessed and recorded capacity to consent appropriately. They did this on a decision-specific basis with regard to significant decisions.
When patients lacked capacity, staff made decisions in their best interests, recognising the importance of the person’s wishes, feelings, culture and history. Staff included families in best interest decision making where possible.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 7 patients and 5 family members of patients.
Patients told us they felt safe on the wards. They told us the staff were all kind and friendly although they sometimes wished there were more staff to spend time with them.
Family members of patients told us that they were very happy with the care provided and most had seen improvements in their family member during their stay. They told us that staff took good care of their family member and communicated well about any updates.
Family members appreciated that they could visit at any time without restrictions.