Health regulator rules hospital 'inadequate' in children's mental health care

A child was twice given double the "safe" dose of a rapid tranquilizer at a hospital run by a troubled NHS trust.

The child was put at "significant risk of harm" at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, said health and care regulator inspectors.

In rating children's services inadequate, they said Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) must halt seeing under 18s for acute mental health needs.

The trust, in special measures, was working to "urgently address concerns".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out a targeted inspection prompted by "concerning information" about treatment at the service run by SaTH.

The trust is already at the centre of the largest ever inquiry into NHS maternity care.

Telford's Princess Royal Hospital staff told inspectors they had seen an increase in the number of young people with "significant mental health issues" and learning disabilities during the past year.

Even so, the services, which were rated as "requiring improvement" in November 2019, were deemed "inadequate" in four out of five areas tested, being safe, effective, responsive and well led.

The CQC said it has taken "urgent action" to protect youngsters at the hospital.

The trust has been in special measures since November 2018, when an major investigation was launched into its maternity services led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.

Last year, the Ockenden review's interim report found mothers were blamed for their babies' deaths and a large number of women died in labour.

In the latest inspection, children were found to "not receive adequate risk assessments on admission". In one example, the risks a ward posed to someone admitted after attempting to harm themselves were not mitigated.

Inspectors also said staff did not follow best practice in anticipating and de-escalating challenging behaviour.

One child's records showed staff "generally relied" on rapid tranquilisation, which they received 27 times during their admission.

They found that staff were not always appropriately trained in restraint, with some security staff involved in interventions not having "any restraint training at all.”

CQC chief inspector of hospitals, Ted Baker, said "all possible steps" should be taken to ensure hospitals were safe for vulnerable young people and concerns that "urgently need addressing" were found.

The hospital was told to immediately review records of all young patients admitted with mental health needs; monitor staff compliance with safeguarding procedures and give the CQC weekly reports on its actions concerning patient safety.

The trust's chief executive, Louise Barnett, said it was "accelerating" the actions needed to improve care, including by ensuring all children had risk assessments and care plans, more staff training and, with partners, appointing a consultant psychiatrist "to provide ongoing leadership and support.”