St Martha's

Ratings - Wards for older people with mental health problems

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

St Martha’s is a hospital for older people with mental health problems and is run by Oldercare (Haslemere) Limited. St Martha’s also operates a nursing unit for older people. The service can admit patients with a functional or organic mental health disorder. Organic mental illness is usually caused by disease affecting the brain such as dementia. Functional mental illness is predominantly a psychological cause. It may include conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, mood disorders or anxiety. The service accepts patients with an organic illness aged 45 and above, and 55 and above if they have a functional illness. The service supports patients detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983, and patients subject to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

St Martha’s is registered to provided accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, treatment of disease, disorder or injury, assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and diagnostic and screening procedures.

We undertook this assessment in December 2024 in response to identified risk and timescale since previous inspections. We inspected Rose ward, the female-only ward, Shamrock, the male-only ward and Iris, the mixed-sex ward.

During this assessment we piloted an approach to identifying and improving service culture using extended observations on Rose and Shamrock wards.

We last assessed this service in January 2020 and rated the service good. We rated effective, caring, responsive and well-led as good and safe as requires improvement.

At the last assessment we found one breach of a legal requirement relating to safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment (Regulation 13). Improvements were found at this assessment and the service was no longer in breach in this area.

At this assessment the service was in breach of the legal requirement in relation to safe care and treatment. Wards were not always a safe environment to provide care to this patient group due to several unmitigated ligature risks. A ligature risk is anything that can be used to attach a cord, rope or other material for the purpose of hanging or strangulation that could pose a risk to patient safety.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

People's experience of this service

We spoke with 8 patients and observed the care and treatment of patients on wards.

Patients felt the staff were caring and looked after them well. We received positive feedback from carers and patients. They were confident that staff and leaders could keep their relatives safe and well cared for. Carers described being involved in their care and treatment and being consulted about any plans. Patients said they had sufficient activities on the wards.

We observed staff members were patient and had considerate interactions with patients.

During this assessment we piloted an approach to identifying and improving service culture using extended observations on Rose and Shamrock wards.

Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance

Mental Health Act

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice and discharged these well. Staff had received training in the Mental Health Act. The provider had policies and procedures in place which were accessible to staff.

Mental Capacity Act

Staff supported patients to make decisions on their care. They understood the provider's policy on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and assessed and recorded capacity for patients who might have impaired mental capacity. They received training in the Mental Capacity Act and demonstrated they understood the five principles