Inspectors condemn failing psychiatric hospital

This week's Friday brief includes details of a a dire inspection at Broomhill, campaigning action and a Labour candidate struggling to get out the vote

Broomhill in Spratton has once again come under fire after inspectors found serious issues within the complex.

More than half of the 22 patients spoken to by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors during the unannounced visit in February raised concerns about their treatment and care by the staff employed by St Matthew’s Healthcare which runs the facility.

The hospital was rated as inadequate in February last year and since then the CQC has been back three times to carry out focussed visits after complaints raised by both whistleblowers and patients.

The latest visit was made after the inspectorate received two allegations of assaults on patients by staff.

During the inspection it was found that more than half of staff were agency and of the 192 patient safety incidents recorded in the month from January to February this year almost all were overdue a review. A number of staff were also not fully up to date with training and inspectors heard examples of staff mimicking patients behind t…