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West Lane Hospital patients 'at high risk of avoidable harm' West Lane Hospital patients 'at high risk of avoidable harm'
(about 5 hours later)
A mental health unit for young people where two patients died in two months has been rated inadequate. A mental health unit for young people where two girls died in two months is not safe, a health watchdog has said.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found patients at West Lane hospital in Middlesbrough were not safe and at high risk of "avoidable harm". The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough inadequate and said patients were at high risk of "avoidable harm".
Inspectors found not all staff had the skills or experience to do their job, and some wards had insufficient staff. It found staff did not store medicines safely, out-of-date medicines were still in use, and staff used non-approved restraint techniques.
The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust said it was taking "urgent action" to address the issues raised. Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust said it was taking "urgent action".
Admissions to the hospital were temporarily suspended following the death of 17-year-old Christie Harnett in June, and on 9 August Nadia Sharif, also 17, died.Admissions to the hospital were temporarily suspended following the death of 17-year-old Christie Harnett in June, and on 9 August Nadia Sharif, also 17, died.
Both their families have called for action to be taken to prevent further deaths.
In March it was revealed 13 members of staff were facing disciplinary proceedings over the alleged ill treatment of patients.In March it was revealed 13 members of staff were facing disciplinary proceedings over the alleged ill treatment of patients.
'Out-of-date medicines' The two girls' families have called for action to be taken to prevent further deaths.
The CQC inspection, carried out over three days in June, uncovered a catalogue of failings, including "substantial and frequent staff shortages" and that staff did not always "adequately assess, monitor or manage risks to patients". Christie had been in care facilities for two years and had a number of mental health issues, including hearing voices, which led her to self-harm and make multiple attempts to take her own life.
Non-approved restraint techniques had been used, people were at risk because staff did not store medicines safely, and there were out-of-date medicines still in use. Nadia had autism and mental health issues and had been in care facilities for four years.
In addition, staff did not feel supported or valued, with morale low, and some told inspectors not all incidents were reported. Her father Hakeel Sharif said previously that improvements needed to be made "very quickly" and it was "not safe for the kids being there".
The inspection in June uncovered a catalogue of failings, including "substantial and frequent staff shortages" and employees not always "adequately assessing, monitoring or managing risks to patients".
The report said staff did not feel supported or valued, with morale low, and some told inspectors not all incidents were reported.
The trust said there was a national shortage of the specialist staff to properly support the "complex needs of young people in mental health inpatient wards".The trust said there was a national shortage of the specialist staff to properly support the "complex needs of young people in mental health inpatient wards".
In July it had consolidated the number of wards from three to two, in a bid to address the staffing problem, allow more time for training, and improve safety, it said.In July it had consolidated the number of wards from three to two, in a bid to address the staffing problem, allow more time for training, and improve safety, it said.
There was also "ongoing work to reduce the use of restrictive interventions".There was also "ongoing work to reduce the use of restrictive interventions".
Elizabeth Moody, the trust's deputy chief executive, added: "Our patients are always our priority... we are committed to making the improvements necessary.Elizabeth Moody, the trust's deputy chief executive, added: "Our patients are always our priority... we are committed to making the improvements necessary.
"We will continue to work closely with the CQC, staff, and most importantly the young people in our care and their families, to ensure we provide better care at West Lane Hospital.""We will continue to work closely with the CQC, staff, and most importantly the young people in our care and their families, to ensure we provide better care at West Lane Hospital."