CQC report unveils improvements needed for Mental Health Inpatient Units at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Mental health units in Cumbria 'require improvement' Credit: ITV Border

Mental health units in Cumbria have been rated as 'requires improvement' by inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the findings of its comprehensive inspection programme of all specialist mental health services in England.

Following the inspection, the rating of Mental Health inpatient units at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have remained as ‘Requires Improvement’, with two areas being rated as ‘Good’.

In February 2017 the CQC carried out an unannounced inspection of Mental Health Inpatient Units and Psychiatric Inpatient Care Units across the county.

The CQC assessed the following five areas, which were each given a separate ratings:

  • Are services safe? Requires improvement

  • Are services effective? Requires improvement

  • Are services caring? Good

  • Are services responsive? Good

  • Are services well-led? Requires improvement

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust says they are thankful to staff for their commitment in continually improving their services.

Cumberland Infirmary Credit: ITV Border

The report includes a series of actions that the Trust must take, which includes:

  • Ensuring that the medicine management is adequate across all wards.

  • Ensuring that patients have access to psychological therapies on all wards.

  • Improving the incident reporting system.

  • Addressing the out of hour’s medical cover available across the wards.

  • Ensuring records of consent to treatment for detained patients are undertaken.