Mental health trust requires improvement says CQC report
A mental health trust has been told it requires improvement, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).Inspectors visited the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) over three days in July 2024, after concerns were raised about the quality of care being offered.The report found that the trust had breached legal regulations relating to safeguarding and that staff feared "retribution" for speaking out.Dominic Hardisty, AWP chief executive, said: "Whilst disappointed with the outcome of the Well-Led inspection, we are pleased to have been rated good in our adult community services and adult wards, which is a tribute to the hard work of our staff."
He added: "This demonstrates a commitment to, and track record of progress, and over the last year we implemented a range of additional improvements in those areas identified by CQC to further enhance the experience for our patients, staff and stakeholders."'Well-led' inspections focus on ensuring the need for an "inclusive and positive culture" and do not cover the CQC's other areas of oversight such as safety and effectiveness.The trust provides mental health services in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Staff 'feared speaking up'
The report stated that the trust had "not ensured, Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) processes were effective, that racism and discrimination were addressed across all services and safeguarding systems and processes were effective".It indicated that while staff were aware of the FTSU process, it found that they "feared retribution when speaking up", with some staff reporting that they "did not feel safe in completing staff surveys".Inspectors also found that certain staff believed there was a "performative culture", in relation to the trust's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) ambitions "where senior leaders spoke of inclusion, but there was a lack of action on how the trust truly achieved this".This was compounded by the finding that "staff felt their career progression and opportunities could be compromised if they disclosed information about their protected characteristics".
'Driving improvements'
The report praised the trust's Green Plan, saying there was a "clear understanding" of where reduction in emissions could be achieved. The trust had also secured grants for solar panels and LED lights.The trust was also said to have a willingness to "improve culture and hear from patients" and some staff told inspectors that they felt senior leaders were "capable, compassionate and took feedback on board".Shane Devlin, chief executive officer of NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said he was "assured by the progress AWP has already started to make and are committed, as system partners, to supporting its leadership team in driving continued improvements".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Houghton heart donation recipient calls for change in rules
A woman who was the first baby to have a heart transplant in the UK says families should not be able to overturn a loved one's decision to donate their donations have almost tripled from 255 in 2020/21 to 680 in 2023/24, according to official figures, leading to an estimated 2,040 "missed opportunities" last Davidson-Olley, from Houghton-le-Spring, who had transplant surgery at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital in 1987, said lives were continuing to be Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said families were "always involved" in donation and they might have "important information" which was vital in understanding whether organs were safe for donation. Last year, families refusing donation gave reasons including not knowing what the patient wanted, feeling the donation process took too long, not wanting any further surgery to the body, or it was against religious and cultural research carried out by Bangor University found some families did not understand the soft opt-out laws, introduced in England in 2020, where patients are presumed to have given consent for donation unless they specifically opted out of the organ donation register. "The knock-on impact is lives won't be saved, it's as simple as that. Organs need to be used here, not in heaven," Ms Davidson-Olley, now 38, said."The figures [for organ donations] are extremely low, and we need to boost that up and we need public help to do that."Ms Davidson-Olley praised the NHS, but said the sole decision to remain opted-in to the Organ Donation Register should be honoured, where appropriate. According to the NHS, for every one donor, an average of three organs can be transplanted, potentially saving additional lives."You're giving a life, you're giving a gift, look at me 38 years post-transplant - I love my life and I couldn't be thankful enough to what I've been given," Ms Davidson-Olley said."Have the conversation [with your family] and share your wishes." Figures from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 showed that 140 families overruled a patient's "opt-in decision". A further 540 families did not support "deemed consent", where there is no expressed decision and so the patient is assumed to support organ all those cases, no donation went ahead. Terry Archbold previously told the BBC he and his partner were split over organ donation after their daughter Isabel was his partner Cheryl agreed, Mr Archbold said he had initially refused organ donation as he had never given the subject consideration, and a "protective instinct kicked in" that "didn't want anyone to touch her".However, it was only after having a discussion he said he realised they would be "hopefully saving other parents from experiencing the same feelings we had". Families consulted A spokesperson for NHSBT said families were often aware of a patient's "medical, travel and social history" and which was "vital to understanding" whether their organs were "safe to transplant", or had more recent information than a decision recorded on the donor said while families were expected to support a patient's decision to donate, the circumstances in which a person died were "often very sudden and traumatic", and said it was encouraging people to be clear with family members about their wishes."Families are far more likely to support donation when they already know it was what their relative wanted," the spokesperson said."Almost 90% of people honoured their family members decision last year when they had either registered their decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register or had spoken with their family about wanting to be an organ donor."The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was encouraging everybody to "register their decision" which "only takes two minutes and could save up to nine lives".A spokesperson added the DHSC was making it "as easy as possible" for those to record their preference on the register. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bradford healthy diet courses focus on South Asian communities
"Our South Asian diet is a high-carb diet and actually high sugar as well," says Shanaz Begum."People struggle to eat healthily and to know what healthy eating is."That chapati, how much sugar has it got? You wouldn't think it's got that much sugar in it, but it actually has."Ms Begum is a former NHS employee who gives up some of her free time to volunteer at sessions on healthy eating and weight management in helps to run a free 12-week course, funded by Bradford Council, focusing on South Asian organisers say those communities face particular challenges when it comes to their health, diet and lifestyle. At today's session, those attending sit and chat enthusiastically as they discuss the merits - or otherwise - of various cooking learn about the nutritional values of a range of foods, from South Asian staples to traditional breakfast cereals, as well as sharing recipes and cooking session ends with 10 minutes of Maheshwari, project lead, says: "South Asians tend to gather their fat around the visceral organs, around the waist, so their BMI [Body Mass Index] is slightly different."The festivals, eating patterns, cooking styles and traditional foods are different, so it is very important to focus on that population." BMI is used by the NHS to assess whether people are a healthy weight and is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in white people, a BMI of 25 or higher is classed as overweight, but for people from black or Asian backgrounds, this figure is means people of the same height and weight can be classed as "healthy" if they are white, but they can be considered "overweight" if they are black or to the NHS, this is because "people from an Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic background have a higher chance of developing health problems at a lower BMI".Dietician Nusrat Kausar, based in Bradford, says her home city provides its own challenges when it comes to staying healthy."In Bradford, there are a lot of takeaways," she says, with a rueful smile."We have a lot of food shops, streets and streets of desserts, fried food."So, a lot of the environment doesn't make it easy to eat healthily." Bimla Devi, who has recently started attending the sessions in Bradford along with her daughter and a friend, says there were good reasons for getting involved."In the past, I was pre-diabetic," she explains."I've gained weight again and had to go to the doctors. That's how I found out about this."Ms Devi says she thought the free sessions in Bradford were "new and different" compared to other weight-loss programmes."So, I thought I'd give it a go and, hopefully, it'll help my health and help my daughter and my friend as well." Meanwhile, fellow participant Gurdev Kaur says the course will "definitely" make her and her family healthier."It makes you more aware," she says."You look at the labels, you talk about exercise, you talk about well-being and you just learn from each other so much. "As a Sikh, your life journey is to learn things every day."Ms Begum says the courses taking place in Bradford are all about "sharing"."People are sharing their journeys, their recipes, what changes they're making and people are adapting it to their lifestyles as well. That is really powerful."This kind of group, it motivates people. I've seen the difference, I've learned from others, which has been brilliant, actually." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Huntington's disease: 'Love keeps me going,' husband carer says
"I sleep very lightly, almost with one ear and one eye open," says Steve Duckett who cares for his wife, Sandy, who has Huntington's disease."I have learned to be a good carer but it is relentless," he Duckett, 72, first developed symptoms about 25 years inherited genetic condition, which her mother died of, leads to the progressive deterioration of behaviour, thinking and movement. There is currently no Duckett retired early -10 years ago - from his job in local government, to become a full-time carer."At that stage it was more to give Sandy companionship, to make sure she remembered to eat and to help her with everyday tasks," he says. 'You never really switch off' Mrs Duckett's condition has since deteriorated and her very complex health needs means she now qualifies for NHS continuing healthcare, which funds daily carers in their home. Mr Duckett describes the carers who look after his wife as "diamonds" and says their expert help has made a "huge difference". "They have given me my life back," he says, but admits he still cares for his wife for about 100 hours a week."I do all the night time care," he explains."I bear the responsibility of looking after her. You never really switch off. I am the one that knows her really well, watches the signs. "I try to make sure she is getting all the help she needs."Mrs Duckett has lost all of her mobility, needs to be hoisted and is mostly fed through a feeding tube because her ability to swallow has become severely compromised. But her attitude to the illness is "inspirational", her husband says."I have never heard her say, 'Why me?', she still maintains that stoic, positive approach to it," says Mr Duckett, adding: "She is remarkable."The couple, who live in Corfe Mullen in Dorset, married in 1973. Mr Duckett says they are "incredibly fortunate" that both of their children tested negative for Huntington's. Children have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease from an affected parent. 'Carers deserve recognition' Mrs Duckett is only able to speak occasional words."She still tells me she loves me and that makes me a bit tearful," Mr Duckett says. "My love for Sandy keeps me going."He reflects on how illness has altered their relationship."That change from husband to carer is subtle," he says."I have lost a lot, that explains why sometimes I feel a little bit sad."He is keen to raise awareness of Huntington's Disease and the role carers play."We have always been that couple who will say, 'Sandy has Huntington's, what do you want to know?'," he Huntington's Disease Association says there is a need for more awareness of the condition, including among some healthcare Duckett supports other carers in Dorset through voluntary work."Caring is a difficult, tough gig, it does become a bit of a burden," he says."You get used to coming second. I say to people, 'you need to look after yourself'."Carers UK says unpaid carers save the UK an estimated £184bn a year. But Mr Duckett says too often carer's stories are unheard."We are really valuable,which is why I think it's important that carers get the recognition and are respected." 'Selfless dedication' A government spokesperson says it recognises "the immense contribution of carers who selflessly dedicate their time to supporting others". "To ensure families get the support they need, we have increased the carer's allowance earnings limit by around an extra £2,000 a year – the biggest rise since it was introduced in 1976," they add."The Better Care Fund, backed by £9bn, includes funding that can be used to provide carers with short breaks and respite services. "Baroness Casey's independent commission into adult social care, which started in April, will explore the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
