The CQC has today published feedback following an inspection undertakenin October and November 2020 at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
EPUT took immediate action to remedy safety concerns raised by the CQC, which included making physical changes to the ward environment, ensuring staff follow procedures correctly, and providing leadership support.
The actions taken are part of new safety measures being brought in across the Trust by new leadership.
Chief Executive of EPUT, Paul Scott, said: “Safety is an absolute priority and we have taken immediate action to make the physical environment safer and improve practices to ensure that staff are supported to provide consistent, safe, high quality care.
“There is still more to do, and we have accelerated work to improve the safety of services, including investing in digital innovations that will support staff to monitor patients’ safety and wellbeing.”
The Trust is rolling out a new piece of technology called Oxehealth’s Oxevision to support patient observations. This uses secure optical sensors to help remotely monitor patients’ pulse and breathing rates, and alerts staff if they display activity or behaviour that may present a risk to their safety.
EPUT has made significant investment in new safety measures across its mental health inpatient services since it was established in 2017, and a new Trust-wide inpatient safety strategy is also being developed with stakeholders, which sets out priorities for further improvement.