A major inspection has raised serious concerns over patient and staff safety at three NHS in-patient wards for people with learning disabilities and autism in the North East.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated services at the Mitford Unit in Morpeth, Rose Lodge in Hebburn, and Edenwood in Cumbria as “requires improvement” following inspections that revealed a high number of patient injuries and rising incidents of staff assaults.
The inspections, which took place between July and September 2024, were prompted by external reports about staff welfare. Inspectors found breaches of care regulations and warned the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust that “rapid and widespread” improvements were needed.
Victoria Marsden, the CQC’s deputy director of operations in the North, said the investigation confirmed that staff were not always properly supported or trained to manage the complex needs of patients, leading to increased use of physical restraint — sometimes outside national guidelines.
“Records didn’t always show how injuries were sustained, whether from restraint or self-harm,” Marsden stated. “It also wasn’t clear if incidents were properly investigated to help prevent future harm.”
The Health and Safety Executive had previously warned the trust that not enough was being done to keep staff safe, citing broken attack alarms at the Mitford Unit as one example.
While the CQC acknowledged improvements had been made by September 2024 — and the trust says it has since implemented safer restraint practices and additional safeguards — inspectors confirmed they would continue to monitor progress through monthly updates.
Sarah Rushbrooke, executive director of nursing, therapies and quality assurance at the trust, responded: “The quality and safety of care we provide to our patients is our top priority, and we welcome the CQC’s inspections. We are pleased they recognised the progress we’ve made and will continue to work closely with them to ensure further improvements.”