Three mental health hospital wards in Newcastle are "not fit for purpose" according the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The regulator undertook an unannounced inspection at the Hadrian Clinic - on the Campus for Ageing and Vitality at the old Newcastle General Hospital site off the Westgate Road - and found issues of concern on the Fellside, Lamesley and Lowry wards.
The Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, which runs the clinic providing support for adults with mental illness who require support in a hospital setting, has been told it needs to improve. In response, the Trust said it has an action plan in place, and highlighted that it recognises the shortcomings in facilities and is planning to move the services to new premises at St Nicholas' Hospital in early 2024
The regulator said it had carried out the focused inspection because after receiving "concerns about the safety and quality of the service" in particular "in relation to two serious incidents and a whistleblowing enquiry". The inspection took place in December 2022.
Issues highlighted by the inspectors included the limited space on each of the wards - meaning on the wards there was little room for "de-escalation", along with a lack of en-suite facilities and there only being two communal toilets on each ward. The inspectors also said staff told them they did not always feel safe in the hospital grounds on evenings.
The CQC also drew attention to the use of bank and agency staff and a lack of staff training "to help manage people's needs and keep them safe".
However, positives found by inspectors included:
- The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
- Leaders understood the issues on the unit and were putting interim measures in place to support people and staff until the wards could be relocated.
- Most staff felt respected, supported and valued, focussing on the needs of people receiving care.
Sarah Dronsfield, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the north, said: "Following our inspection at the Hadrian Centre, we found a service that wasn’t fit for purpose, ward areas were small rooms and there was limited outside space and communal areas for people to use.
"None of the bedrooms on any of the wards had bathroom facilities and there were only two communal toilets on each of the wards. The décor was dated, and wards were noisy. When we looked at the Lowry ward, the ground floor was dirty with cigarette butts and paper cups lying around. Nobody should have to access health and social care services in this state."
Ms Dronsfield said that the inspection team had shared their concerns with senior leaders at the NHS trust on the final day of the inspection and been told that they were "already aware of the issues". She added: "They have now reviewed the hospital site and sent us a copy of an action plan which informs us of interim measures being put in place until the three wards we inspected relocate to the Bamburgh Clinic at St Nicholas Hospital, in spring 2024.
"We will work closely with the trust to ensure improvements have been made so people are living in a more comfortable environment that meets their needs, until the new building is completed next year, as everyone using Hadrian Clinic deserves a high standard of care."
James Duncan, chief executive at CNTW, said: "We are aware that the wards at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality are not fit-for-purpose, which is why they are part of our Care Environment Development and Reprovision (CEDAR) programme. This is a multi-million pound investment in which we are moving, building and redeveloping several of our facilities to ensure we can deliver high-quality care in modern, safe, therapeutic environments.
"Work on this programme is continuing at pace, and we aim to move all three wards to the redeveloped Bamburgh Clinic at St Nicholas Hospital in spring 2024.
"We are fully committed to ensuring that all necessary improvements are made, and will work closely with the CQC and other partners throughout. I am also pleased that this report also recognises the compassionate and person-centered care given by our staff on these wards, in often difficult circumstances."
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