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A Stockport hospital where three young women died within weeks last year has been told to make improvements after a number of breaches were reported by health inspectors.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) services at Cheadle Royal Hospital to be ‘inadequate’. The hospital, on a whole, was rated as ‘requires improvement’.
The 150-bed hospital provides care to people with ‘diverse nursing needs’, including adults with psychiatric intensive care needs, personality disorders and eating disorders. Mental health blogger Beth Matthews, 26, Lauren Bridges, 20, and Deseree Fitzpatrick, 30, all died at the psychiatric hospital last year - although their deaths are not thought to be linked.
The recent review at three of the hospital’s 13 wards - Woodlands, Orchard and Meadows - revealed that high levels of restraint were being used at the facility, that the health of patients was not being monitored after tranquilisation, nor were side-effects of medications being looked at.
It also found that staff at the hospital, which is also known as the Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal, did not always update risk assessments after incidents, young people did not always have easy access to outside space and mandatory staff training and supervision was below target.
Alison Chilton, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: “When we inspected mental health services for children and young people at Cheadle Royal Hospital, we found standards of care were well below those people have a right to expect.
“The child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) wards weren’t well-led and information systems didn’t ensure that wards ran smoothly. We found ward environments weren’t always well maintained.
“On Meadows for example, people had graffitied doors, on Woodlands there were rooms with broken windows, although there was no safety risk from broken glass, they didn’t provide a therapeutic environment for people to live in. Also, on Orchard we saw several bedrooms either without curtains or they were too short, although the provider informed us curtains were on order.
“People shouldn’t have to live in an environment with these poor conditions and the provider must address these issues as a matter of priority. Also, young people couldn’t easily access the outside space which is really important to help them live healthier lives.”
We’ll be looking into the response from the Priory’s CEO next. Today’s Mancunian Way will also feature a £6m fire station, vaping warnings and a very friendly cat.
'Misrepresentation is unhelpful'
Priory chief Rebekah Cresswell has insisted that the CQC inspection does not 'accurately reflect the quality of... child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) services at Cheadle'. She said the rating gave the ‘wrong impression’ and claimed services had been 'misrepresented'.
The facility's overall rating was 'requires improvement’ after describing discharge planning as 'generic’, finding that ward environments were not always well maintained and reporting that agency staff did not always treat people with 'dignity and respect'.
However, inspectors did note that most staff were compassionate and kind and respected patients' privacy and dignity - and understood their needs.
It has not been suggested that the three recent deaths sparked the investigation, although coroners raised serious concerns about the facility following the death of Ms Matthews and Ms Fitzpatrick. Coronial proceedings in relation to Ms Bridges' passing are ongoing.
Priory CEO Ms Cresswell said of the inspection: "We are disappointed with the CQC's overall (CAMHs) rating which does not accurately reflect the quality of our child and adolescent mental health services at Cheadle, and have disputed the factual accuracy of many aspects of the report.”
She continued: "The headlines of the CQC's press release fail to identify many positive aspects found by inspectors, including that 'all wards were safe, clean, well-equipped, well-furnished and fit for purpose', patient incidents were managed well, our staff were 'discreet, respectful, and responsive when caring for children and young people', and that patients felt our staff were 'supportive, kind, respectful and caring'.”
Ms Cresswell said that £2 million had been spent on improving services at Cheadle Royal Hospital since January 2022 - including £360,000 this year on refurbishing Orchard ward as a high dependency care ward.
Ms Cresswell stated that agency use was ‘down by two-thirds since the inspection’ with a number of new permanent recruits hired this year. She added: “We are concerned that this kind of rating, when care has been highlighted as good, gives the wrong impression and could exacerbate the very problem the regulator appears to want to address, namely staffing.”
You can read her full statement here.
'Reignited with chemicals'
An Oldham headteacher has issued a stern warning about the use of vapes after he alleged a student collapsed after just one puff of an electronic cigarette purchased on Manchester's 'counterfeit street'.
Glyn Potts, headteacher at Blessed John Henry Newman RC College, said pupils were left 'shocked' and 'scared' after their classmate became unwell and passed out near the school gates after using a vape for the first time.
"We don't know what is going in the vapes themselves, and a number of them are repurposed," he told M.E.N reporter Nicole Wootton-Cane.
"We are seeing vapes that have been reignited with chemicals and toxins that we don't know about. That's certainly the case with the young man that collapsed at our school."
Glyn said the student, who has since made a full recovery, had purchased the modified disposable vape in Cheetham Hill. The vape claimed to contain CBD oil but the headteacher said there was 'no way of testing' if that was the case.
He said a number of schools in the region have seen similar events as the number of vapes 'repurposed for illicit means' grows.
"It certainly overwhelmed that young person, and then he began to feel very very sick and collapsed," he said.
"Young people need advice and information that this type of device is not safe.”
Clubbing with a twist
A charity club night is offering revellers the chance to pay to party with food and non-perishable items, such as toothpaste and sanitary towels.
The event at Six Trees in Trafford Park, hosted by long-running party night Hit & Run, will send all donations to the Salford Foodbank before being distributed across the city. Last year’s event saw more than 700 kg of food donated and helped raise nearly £5,000 for good causes.
“We hope to top both those totals this year; and with your help we can,” organiser and Hit & Run founder Rich Reason told What’s On reporter Ben Arnold. “Greater Manchester’s food banks are incredibly stretched, with demand far-outstripping supply; sadly, this initiative and others like it are needed more and more.”
The Food 4 Thought festival will run from 2pm until 3am on Saturday (June 3) and will also include a screening of the FA Cup final, alongside DJs including Benny L & NV, Dub Phizix and Sl8r. The night will also raise money for the MSF Palestine appeal.
Roll with it...
A competition which sees people race down a 200-yard long hill in Gloucester whilst chasing a wheel of cheese has been won by a Manchester man.
The event is part of a long standing tradition that has seen people from all over the world, including the likes of Japan, Switzerland and Canada, take part. This year’s event also saw a woman win despite being knocked unconscious.
The men’s race was won by 28-year-old Matt Crolla who told the M.E.N’s Neal Keeling that his only preparation for becoming a champion was to be "an idiot".
Matt, from Manchester, recalled: “I'm glad I'm pretty conscious and I've not got many serious injuries." Holding his prize of a cheese wheel, he said: "I don't think you can train for it, can you? It's just being an idiot. I'm a big fan of cheese - I'm buzzing."
During the event, the wheel of cheese can reach speeds of up to 70mph. 1993’s race saw 15 people injured, including four who were left seriously hurt in the event. Rugby players stand at the bottom of the hill to catch those rolling down.
Women's champion Delaney Irving, 19, from Vancouver Island in Canada, said the race was 'good' after remembering it. She explained: "I remember running, then bumping my head, and then I woke up in the tent. I still don't really believe it, but it feels great.”
Read more about this year’s event here.
Ring the alarm
A new 'state-of-the-art' fire station could be built in Stockport after bosses U-turned on plans to close two stations in the borough.
Bosses at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have now proposed demolishing and rebuilding the current station on King Street West as part of a £38m overhaul of its estate.
GMFRS had initially announced four years ago plans to shut down the site alongside Whitehill station in Reddish before merging them into one new station. It was then decided last year that both stations would be rebuilt at a cost of £6m each.
If the plans are approved, the new King Street West station will feature eco-friendly heating and lighting systems and an operational room which will also be available for use by community groups.
Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Kate Green said: “People across Greater Manchester deserve the very best service that our firefighters can deliver, and these plans are all about giving them the facilities and the resources to get on with the job of protecting communities in Stockport.
“Our £38m Estates Strategy outlines how we’re investing in new stations to modernise our operations across the city region and deliver additional benefits, like cutting carbon emissions and offering new spaces for community engagement and training."
Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel added: “This is a chance for residents and businesses in Stockport to tell us their priorities for the future of their community fire station.
"Every day our firefighters go to work right in the heart of the communities that we serve, so we have a responsibility to ensure that those facilities are of the highest quality and support crews to respond rapidly and professionally to a wide variety of incidents."
You can read more on the plans here.
Batman strikes again
Anyone who has ever been lucky enough to visit Chorlton's Metrolink stop will be more than aware of the legend that is Tram Cat.
Professionally known to his owners as Batman, the black-and-white cat will frequently be spotted strolling along the platforms and wandering on the tracks.
Batman has now become so much of a legend that he has now been immortalised in his very own mural at the tram stop. You can find out more here.
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Weather etc
Temperatures: Cloudy changing to sunny by late morning. 20C.
Road closures: One lane closed due to roadworks on A663 Broadway in both directions between Elk Mill Roundabout and Middleton Road. Until May 31.
Fairfax Road in Prestwich closed in both directions due to roadworks between Poppythorn Lane and Highfield Road. Until May 31.
Egmont Street in Salford closed in both directions due to roadworks. Until June 1.
Dickenson Road in Rusholme closed in both directions between Wilmslow Road and Hythe Close due to emergency repairs and an unsafe building. Until June 16.
Train strikes: Thousands of members of the RMT working for Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will strike on May 31. A very limited rail service will operate and no bus replacement services will be running.
Manchester headlines
- College: Cheadle College has revealed ‘exciting’ plans for a £27m revamp of its site - including a new purpose-built college building and proposals for dozens of new homes. Staff say the plans would replace the college’s current building, which is now deemed to be ‘dated and in need of refurbishment’. More here.
- 'Dangerous': Police are investigating after a 'car cruise meet' took place around the Trafford Centre car park last week. Photos from the event showed an orange and black car cruising around the car park with smoke billowing behind them.
- Lathums: Wigan band The Lathums have announced they will be performing at Glastonbury for the first time this summer. This year’s festival will be headlined by Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses and Sir Elton John.
- Middle: A driver has been called ‘selfish’ after blocking a pedestrian crossing on a busy main road in Deansgate. The man parked sideways before getting out to nip out to the nearby shop. More here.
Worth a read
Now I’m no wrestling fan, but even I’ve heard of The Undertaker. With over 30 years in the game, the professional wrestler has racked up multiple titles and had a legendary run of 21 wins at Wrestlemania
Hailing from Houston, Texas, the 58-year-old has since retired from the ring but will be visiting Manchester's Albert Hall in July for an evening of stories from his days with WWF.
Speaking to the M.E.N's Rami Mwamba about the show's origins, The Undertaker said: "I have 30 plus years of life experience, stories, funny stories, sad stories, insight on things that had happened to me through the years, and I wasn't really ready to be done with the business."
You can read the interview here.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email adam.maidment@reachplc.com.
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