Care watchdog issues warning to health trust

A GREATER Manchester mental health trust has been issued an urgent warning from the health and care watchdog after an inspection of its hospital wards.

- BY HELENA VESTY

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust was visited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following safety concerns from whistleblowers and people using the units between June and October 2024.

And according to the watchdog, these concerns about the wards for older people were proven to be “substantiated” during the inspection in November last year.

It revealed breaches to people’s safety and patients’ consent to care and treatment. The CQC also found that there were not enough staff with the right skills and training, according to its report published today on Wednesday.

The CQC has issued the trust with a warning notice to make improvements to “ensure care was person centred, as well as providing enough staff with the right skills and training to meet people’s needs” on the wards of concern.

The trust has said it is “already delivering a robust improvement plan” to “ensure lasting change”.

Pennine Care provides inpatient, community and specialist mental health services across Rochdale, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside and Stockport, providing care to more than 70,000 people as of 2023/24.

The trust operates inpatient mental health wards for a range of ages and diagnoses, including units at Fairfield Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital, Tameside General Hospital, the Royal Oldham Hospital and Birch Hill Hospital.

Inspectors found plans did not always show how care was focused on the patient, or that the views of carers or relatives had been taken into account on the wards for older people.