Mum describes mental health trust CQC report as “appalling”

A campaigning mum has described a report which has highlighted continued failings at a mental health trust as “appalling”.

The Care Quality Commission inspected acute wards and psychiatric intensive care units run by the Essex Partnership Trust.

In April last year the south and north partnership trusts merged to form one Essex-wide trust responsible for mental health.

But an inspection in November at units including mental health wards in Chelmsford and Basildon Mental Health Unit found governance was not effective since the merger.

The report said: “We found quality and safety risks for patients and others that the trust had not identified.”

The inspection also found some ligature points identified at inspections in 2016 had not been removed and that there was not always sufficient staffing on the wards.

Between April and October 2017 the trust reported 14 incidents of patients attempting to use a ligature point.

Melanie Leahy’s son Matthew died at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford on November 15, 2012.

Matthew, 20, was found hanging in his room. An inquest into his death found there had been “multiple failings” at the centre.

Mrs Leahy, of Tolleshunt Knights, called for the trust to be held to account after the latest report.

She said: “It is absolutely appalling that the issues have been highlighted again. After all these years they haven’t been dealt with.

“This is a professional body who have a duty to protect patients – that is why they go there in the first place, for their own safety.

“The fact they still have ligature points and had been advised in a review [to do something about it] is appalling.”

Inspectors found good practice with staff observed interacting with patients in a caring manner and 24 patients speaking positively about their care.

A spokesman for the trust said: “The reports have highlighted some good practice and areas we need to improve.

“The trust fully acknowledges the need to make these improvements, and we are absolutely committed to addressing them as soon as possible.

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