Hospital report shows it needs improvements

The entrance to the Uplands Private Hospital Picture: Paul Jacobs

AN INDEPENDENT hospital for people detained under the mental health act that was previously found to provide poor care still requires improvement three years later, according to its latest inspection.

The Care Quality Commission published its latest findings on Uplands Independent Hospital in Park Lane, Fareham this week.

Its inspection, which took place in January, found that the service was good in three out of five areas – but rated it as ‘requiring improvement’ on safety and effective services categories.

The CQC gave the hospital, which had 18 inpatients at the time of the visit, an overall rating of ‘requires improvement.’

However it did note that improvements had been made, since its last inspection in November 2015.

The report said: ‘During this inspection, progress had been made, which was sufficient to amend the ratings for ‘responsive’ and ‘well led’ from requires improvement to good. Caring remained good. However, we were unable to re-rate ‘safe’ and ‘effective’ from requires improvement because of the issues around monitoring rapid tranquilisation and supervision and appraisals were in breach of regulation that needed requirement notices.’

In 2014, The News reported findings from a CQC inspection.

The health watchdog found that patients were not getting the care they required and said care plans and risk assessments had not been updated. It raised concerns about training and staff supervision.

A police probe into allegations of abuse was also launched the same year, and care worker Bernie Goffin appeared in court in December 2014 charged with assault by throwing an unused incontinence pad at a patient.

Goffin, of Chantrell Walk, Fareham, denied the charge but was found guilty and sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and told her to pay £300 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.

The company that runs the hospital, Coveberry Limited, part of CareTech Holdings, said it had worked to address the issues.

A spokesman for Uplands said: ‘The CQC report acknowledges the progress made at Uplands and rates the quality of caring, responsiveness and leadership as good. The report identifies a small but important number of areas that need improvement and we are addressing these as quickly as possible.

‘Our objective is to provide the highest standards of care and we will continue to work with the CQC to ensure that Uplands meets or exceeds CQC requirements.’