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Norfolk and Suffolk FT removed from special measures

A mental health trust has been removed from special measures after the CQC found it had made improvements, although concerns remain.

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS FT was placed in special measures last year after the CQC rated it as ‘inadequate’ for being safe and well-led, and gave it an ‘inadequate’ rating overall.

In its latest inspection, the CQC improved the trust’s rating overall to ‘requires improvement’, although it still rated it ‘inadequate’ for safety.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, the chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Our return to Norfolk and Suffolk FT showed significant improvement had taken place.

“There clearly remain areas where further work is needed, in particular with regard to how the trust manages risks to people’s safety, but we found considerable and positive change had taken place.

“Morale had significantly improved, there were better systems for recording and learning from incidents and people’s needs were assessed, with care and treatment planned to meet those needs.”

The CQC expressed safety concerns about some mixed sex accommodation, seclusion rooms and dormitory areas, as well as risk assessments for patients and storage of medicines.

It found that the use of restraints, a problem raised in the last report, had been reduced but still remained higher than average.

The regulator was also concerned about high death rates at the trust, but Norfolk and Suffolk FT has now commissioned an independent review into community patient deaths.

In addition, the CQC found that the trust did not have adequate staffing levels to ensure safety, and had not ensured that all staff had sufficient mandatory training.

It praised the trust for re-organising its board and improving its visibility and engagement with staff. However, it said the board needed to do more to understand and address safety risks.

NHS Improvement said it would now agree an action plan with the trust to address the ongoing issues.

Frances Shattock, NHS Improvement’s delivery and improvement director for the East of England, said: “There is clearly much more to do to ensure that the trust sustains and builds on these improvements.

“We will continue to provide the trust with extensive support to ensure it is able to give the standard of care patients expect.”

Michael Scott, the trust’s chief executive, added that it was “great news” for the trust.

“It is a real testament to all of the hard work and commitment of our staff, and it’s reassuring for our patients,” said Scott. “To have made this positive shift in just over a year-and-a-half is a real achievement and we are incredibly proud of the progress we have made together in all parts of our trust.

“But there will be no complacency on our part. We fully understand that there is still a way to go and we welcome any continued support to help us continue on our upward path.”

The CQC’s latest ‘State of Care’ report, published yesterday, said that 24% of health and social providers judged ‘inadequate’ and 47% rated ‘requires improvement’ did not improve their ratings following inspection.

(Image c. Norwichpride)

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