A privately-run mental hospital in Yorkshire faces further enforcement action after failing to make sufficient progress in tackling service failings, the Care Quality Commission said today.
An inspection report found Linden House in Market Weighton had made progress since two damning Healthcare Commission inspections last year, but that further significant progress was required.
The Healthcare Commission inspections last September and December found Linden House - a 97-bed low- and medium-secure hospital - had not met regulatory requirements relating to the handling of controlled drugs and confidential information, staff numbers and training, and the adequate risk assessment of patients.
It consequently issued four statutory notices, under which providers are required to make improvements, and threatened legal action if Linden House, which is run by Care Principles Ltd, failed to comply.
The CQC, which took over the Healthcare Commission's functions in April, found significant progress had been made in staffing levels, but that not all of the requirements in the statutory notices had been met.
There was no evidence of suicide and self-harm audits being completed within the hospital, information for patients was not always accessible and not all staff received annual appraisals.
The CQC has issued two further statutory notices and said it was considering what further enforcement action it would take. The regulator has the power to prosecute or cancel registration of a provider that fails to comply with enforcement notices.
Tim Weller, the commission’s senior enforcement manager, said it would continue "to closely monitor the situation at the hospital".
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