Learning disability and autism wards run by the Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust (CNTW) have been hit with a rating of "requires improvement" after an inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May this year.
In its criticism, the CQC highlighted staffing issues and that staff did not necessarily "receive the right training". The independent regulator also highlighted how one patient looked after by the trust was subject to "restrictions which were not proportionate" to the level of risk they posed, while people looked after in seclusion did not always see their privacy and dignity respected.
Additionally, the CQC inspection team found that it was not always clear in patient records in some cases why a patient had initially been prescribed anti-psychotic medication. Another criticism included: "The use of restrictive interventions was high and there was a high proportion of prone restraint."
