NHS Watchdog Sanctions Mental Health Hospital For Having History Of Poor Care

A private mental health hospital used by the NHS has been sanctioned by the service’s safety watchdog, which warned it has had a “history” of substandard care.

- REBECCA THOMAS

Cygnet Hospital Wyke, in West Yorkshire, run by Cygnet Health Care has been criticised by the Care Quality Commission in a damning new report. Cygnet Health Care is one of the largest providers of privately run inpatient mental health hospitals in the UK and receives hundreds of millions of pounds from the NHS each year.

Following an inspection, the CQC has rated the service inadequate and has issued the hospital with an “enforcement action” notice, which means if it does not improve, the regulator will take further action which can include closing the service.

Inspectors raised concerns over staff altering patients’ medication records and gaps in records being completed retrospectively.