Care Quality Commission Report on Westridge Learning Disability Hospital

Care Quality Commission Report on Westridge Learning Disability Hospital

People with a learning disability who receive specialist assessment and treatment in Gloucestershire are protected from abuse or the risk of abuse.

That is the assessment of the Care Quality Committee (CQC) following an unannounced visit to Westridge Learning Disability Hospital in Stonehouse, during October 2011. The report, which was published today (11 January), also highlights that patients’ human rights are respected and upheld.

In May 2011, a BBC Panorama programme highlighted undercover footage of staff abusing vulnerable adults at Winterbourne View, a private hospital for people with learning disabilities.

Following the programme, the CQC England’s independent regulator of all health and social care services, announced a national inspection programme of services for people with a learning disability.

CQC inspectors assessed the services ²gether NHS Foundation Trust (²gether) provides at Westridge over two days. Their report highlights the views of patient’s relatives who told Inspectors that they are happy with the service provided; the skills of staff; and that they felt informed and included in the care provided.

However, the report also noted concerns around personal care records which means that Westridge was non compliant on two standards assessed. This was primarily due to the Trust’s current transition from using paper to electronic care records.

Trish Jay, ²gether’s Director of Quality and Performance said “We welcome CQC’s report and their findings. The report shows that people who use ²gether’s services at Westridge are safe and also highlights areas where we should make improvements to make sure our patients experience appropriate care and treatment”.

Following initial feedback from inspectors, we identified actions to address the concerns and have implemented these fully.”

The Trust has proactively provided CQC with a report on the actions and improvements it has taken since the inspection.

Trish continued: “It is important that we learn from patients, relatives and other people who assess our services with a fresh pair of eyes. This helps us to keep improving what we do and make further improvements in our services to help ensure we provide responsive care and support.”