Damning report says NHS trust in Lincolnshire '˜requires improvement'

The safety of some services run by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been labelled '˜inadequate' in a Care Quality Commission report on released today (Thursday).
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The trust, which provides mental health services across Lincolnshire, was given an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’ following the inspection which took place between November 30 and December 4 last year.

Safety of services was given a rating of ‘inadequate’. The report also said the trust ‘requires improvement’ when it comes to services being effective and well-led.

It was rated as ‘good’ in the areas of being caring and responsive.

CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals and lead for mental health Dr Paul Lelliott, said: “Our inspectors found the trust must make a number of improvements to bring its services overall up to a level that would earn a rating of ‘good’ overall. We gave immediate feedback to the trust following the inspection and this report presents the detail of our findings, our ratings and our recommendations.

“In particular, we were concerned about the safety of some of the services.

“The trust had not done all it could to assess risks to patients or to minimise the risks on some wards to patients who might be at risk of suicide. Additonally, we found that seclusion facilities at the trust needed to be managed within the safeguards of the Mental Health Act Code of Practice.

“The trust needed to make sure that sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified staff were available at all times to make sure the care provided met people’s needs.

“Our inspection also highlighted that the trust needed to make sure systems to monitor quality and performance were in place and that learning and improvement took place to ensure the future safety of patients and staff following incidents.

“Despite these concerns, we also found a number of areas of good practice across Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This included its commitment to dementia research, how it included former service users in its work and its progression of its Child and Adolescent Mental Health services.”

The trust has been told by thr CQC to take action in a number of areas including those related to safety, effective management of medication and food standards.

The authority praised the trusts introduction of ‘street triage’ (which responds to police calls for assistance), the speed and effectivenetss of the community learning disability assertive service (CAST) and volunteer engagement.

It also noted LPFT’s ‘heavy involvement’ in dementia research.

LPFT chief executive Dr John Brewin said the trust had anticipated the rating and said most mental health trusts inspected by the CQC had been given it to date.

He moved to reassure patients that LPFT had taken action to address the inadequate rating.

He said: “Around 27,000 people are under our care at any one time, and whilst we are extremely disappointed to have received an ‘inadequate’ rating for safety we want to reassure our patients that the trust has already taken action.

”We will continue this work with focus and pace to address any further concerns identified.”

He added: “We were pleased that inspectors recognised our staff and volunteers - commenting on their caring, compassionate approach and the clear patient focus demonstrated by all teams.”

He vowed the trust was ‘absolutely committed’ to constantly improving our services for patients and carers.

“We always welcome external scrutiny and this report from the CQC will help inform the improvements we need to make, so that we can continue to provide high quality, safe care for our patients,” he said.

“In common with any inspection there will always be areas for improvement, as well as examples of good practice. Our specialist community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) received an ‘outstanding’ rating for their services for young people and families. Community services for older adults, learning disabilities and forensic inpatient care were also rated ‘good’ overall for the standard of care they provide.”

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