NHS mental health services 'must improve', say inspectors

ONE of the region's biggest NHS trusts has seen its community mental health services stripped of a previously “outstanding” Care Quality Commission rating.

- SAM VOLPE

That is because of issues with “culture”, long waits for care, and a lack of involvement of patients in the planning of their own care, according to inspectors.

The Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Trust's commu nity mental health services for adults are now rated “requires improvement”.

NHS bosses said they had a plan in place to improve things.

Issues identified during the inspection which took place between February 25 and 27 this year - included that some patients had care plans that were “either out of date, weren't personalised or didn’t exist at all’. Inspectors also highlighted waits of up to two years for support.

The inspectors visited a number of community treatment teams and “early intervention in psychosis” teams around the region - these are services that support people without the need to become a hospital inpatient.

Other problems raised include how staff didn’t have appropriate training, and did not always explain a patient's rights under the Mental Health Act in a way that they could understand.