Further action by the care regulator is not being ruled out at a mental health hospital that is facing allegations of physical and sexual assaults by staff on patients.
A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton, found evidence of widespread allegations of abuse including staff kicking and hitting a patient while others watched on.
The BBC previously revealed a police inquiry was ongoing, and the CQC has powers to close facilities.
Craig Howarth, the CQC’s deputy director of mental health, said the regulator would “not hesitate to take any action as required to keep people safe”.
An inspection earlier this year saw the hospital’s rating downgraded to “inadequate” after “unacceptable” failings were identified, and it was put into special measures.
The CQC said it had been “disappointing” changes had not been made resulting in a decision to limit admissions, Mr Howarth told BBC Radio Northamptonshire’s Annabel Amos.
The hospital was reinspected in October and November, but Mr Howarth did not comment on the outcome.
Asked if closure was an option, he said: “What I would say is the CQC would not hesitate to take any action as required to keep people safe and if improvements are not made we will take a look at whatever other enforcement actions we need to take.”
St Andrew’s is a charity which provides specialist care for people with some of the most complex and challenging mental health needs.
It looks after about 600 patients and employs more than 4,000 people across four locations, including the one in Northampton.
Mike Reader MP said things had “gone wrong and lessons haven’t been learned” [Sam Read/BBC]
The Labour MP for Northampton South, Mike Reader, said there was a “culture problem” at the hospital which would need to be addressed.
He said he had been “horrified” by some of the allegations.
“It was clear, when the report was done, there was no learning culture. So things have gone wrong and lessons haven’t been learned and that is one thing St Andrew’s now has to get right,” he added.
Reader said he did not think it was likely the hospital was at threat of closure.
He said: “It is a critical facility for complex mental health in Northamptonshire and across the country.”
The hospital had made assurances there was a “different culture” that would foster “learning and improvement and care that puts patients at its heart,” he added.
However he said there were “questions to be answered” by the CQC and local NHS integrated care board about why repeated concerns were not dealt with.
“I will continue asking questions about how we’ve got to this position, particularly given the concerns raised by the CQC are so shockingly disturbing”.
A spokesman for St Andrew’s said an action plan was in place and apologised to those affected.
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