Report shows improvement in mental health services
Getty ImagesMental health services in the West have shown "significant improvements" following a surprise watchdog inspection.
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an un announced visit to scrutinise In-patient care and community-based mental health services run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) in June 2024.
The services, that reach around 1.8 million people in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, were rated as "good."
The CQC said it was "pleased" with the progress made by AWP, after a previous inspection raised concerns that people "weren't receiving safe care and treatment."
'Listened to feedback'
The Trust was issued with a warning over its care in 2024, after the CQC found "an over-reliance on agency staff" was negatively impacting patient care.
But the watchdog's latest report said both services had "clearly listened to" and "started to take action" on previous feedback.
Neil Cox, CQC deputy director of operations in the south said: "Staff across both services spoke positively about the learning and improvement culture that had developed since our last inspection."
He urged the trust to "keep building on" its new good ratings and said it should be "really pleased" with their progress.
The report did however find areas that required "further improvement" within the services.
Adult wards and psychiatric intensive care units (PICU) were found to have no toilet facilities in rooms used to seclude patients, as well as a lack of air conditioning in windowless rooms.
Community-based services were also found to have a lack of safeguarding policies and procedures that were "clear for all staff to understand."
The CQC also said staff didn't feel able to challenge decisions from senior leaders.
The overall rating for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust remains 'requires improvement overall.'
The CQC said it will "continue to monitor" the trust for continued improvements.