The organisation which oversees and provides mental health care in West Norfolk has been judged inadequate by inspectors following an inspection.
The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust was found to have improved some of its care but there were areas were things had got worse which, in some cases, exposed patients to the risk of harm.
As a result, inspectors from the Care Quality Commission closed two wards to patients, take urgent action in other, and continue to not admit patients to another ward.
It has also ordered the trust to make a number of improvements by law within a certain period of time.
These include better management of people’s medicines and records, observation of patients was not good enough, and there were long waiting lists.
They found the ward treating children and teenagers, community-based mental health services for adults of working age, and acute wards for working age adults/psychiatric intensive care were inadequate.
Inspectors Views
Craig Howarth, CQC head of inspection for mental health and community services, said: “Although the quality and safety of patient care in most of the services we inspected at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation had deteriorated since our previous inspection, there were areas where we found improvement.
“A significant factor behind the trust’s shortcomings was its lack of enough staff to meet patient need, a problem many mental health trusts are encountering. The trust needs to ensure its leaders have effective processes to consistently monitor teams, ensure compliance with training targets, understand issues affecting patient care and do more to support staff on the frontline.
“However, we found staff were more engaged, compared to our previous inspection, driven by a vision of what the trust wanted to achieve for its patients.”
Healthwatch Norfolk Reaction
Healthwatch Norfolk, which acts as the voice of patients, is going to work more closely with health bosses to try and improve things.
Chief executive Alex Stewart (above) said: “We are sad to hear the news of the CQC rating issued to the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust today. The staff there are working incredibly hard caring for and treating patients, and we understand this will be upsetting for those working at the sharp end of patient care.
“Equally, the needs of patients are paramount, and we are aware from feedback we have received that there are concerns about some elements of the way people are being looked after.
“It is encouraging that senior figures in the trust are acknowledging publicly there is work to do, and, moving forwards, Healthwatch Norfolk will be working constructively with the trust and patients to help with this.
“People have said in the media and social media that they share their views about the trust and do not know what happens next. Healthwatch Norfolk is keen to help gather this feedback, pass this on to the trust, and work with them on a long-term basis to help improve care.
“The new Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board will also bring all elements of health and social care together with the aim of improving things for patients. Ensuring organisations are supporting each other to enhance patient care can only be a good thing.”