THE main NHS Trust for East Lancashire mental health patients was today ordered to improve in key areas, including preventing suicide risks, staff training and waiting times.

A report following a four-day inspection of the organisation, which provides hospital and community care to sufferers across the county, identified several concerns.

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The Care Quality Commission visited the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust in April and gave it the overall rating of ‘Requires Improvement’.

The trust has in-patients wards at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals, and runs community and outreach services across the county.

It has a special residential unit for medium and low-security patients at Guild Lodge in Whittingham.

The CQC report published today highlighted poorly-maintained wards and community facilities with ‘furnishings or fittings that posed a danger to people at risk of suicide’.

It said it was ‘disappointing’ the trust, which had known about the problem for several years, had not acted sooner.

The CQC criticised a lack of proper training and supervision with some acute wards lacking the enough experienced staff (just 11 per cent) to meet patients needs. It said waiting times for some community services were too long, notably for patients with chronic fatigue at 60 weeks instead of six.

Trust chief executive Heather Tierney-Moore promised action on those recommendations not already addressed, adding that ‘mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety were rated outstanding’.

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (and CQC mental health lead) Dr Paul Lelliott criticised gaps in provision for 16 to 18-years-olds and their transition to adult care.

He said: “The quality of the services provided by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust was mixed.

“Some wards had furnishings or fittings that posed a danger to people who are at risk of suicide.

“The trust has known about some of these problems for several years.

“It is disappointing it has not taken action sooner to reduce these risks.

“The trust must also work harder to fill some of the vacant posts that are affecting the quality of care provided by some of its services. There were some areas of good practice.

“We saw most staff being responsive, respectful, caring and kind when interacting with patients.

“We have told the trust that it must make a number improvements to bring its services overall to earn a rating of ‘Good’.

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Professor Tierney-Moore said: “We are taking the inspection process and the feedback extremely seriously and we welcome the opportunity to learn and improve. We were realistic about the challenges in some parts of the organisation and issues that need to be resolved.”