BULLYING and inappropriate staff ‘banter’ about drugging patients are among allegations that sparked investigations and an urgent review at a Darlington hospital, The Northern Echo can today reveal.
The Echo has been passed worrying messages exchanged in a WhatsApp group between people understood to be staff members at Cygnet St William's, a facility for those with brain injuries.
They include one post that said: “We once drugged a patient to the point he slept for 16 hours in the same position”.
Others responded with laughing emojis before “Once we stopped prodding him saying “I think he’s dead” and he moved it was ok” was added to the ‘Banter’ group.
The Echo understands the messages were reported by concerned staff members to provider Cygnet Health Care.
The messages came to light following separate allegations over a “bullying culture” at the hospital, which is a 12-bed neuropsychiatry facility caring for men with acquired brain injuries.
A spokeswoman for Cygnet said an investigation is underway but that it would be inappropriate to comment further while inquiries are ongoing.
However, the Care Quality Commission has confirmed it is aware of the allegations at St William's and recently carried out an inspection of the facility.
A spokeswoman said Cygnet is carrying out its own bullying investigation and said the provider is keeping the CQC, which inspects and regulates care homes, updated.
She said the culture at the home, and the impact it has on people’s care, would continue to be monitored.
The regulatory body was made aware of the WhatsApp messages after its most recent inspection – findings from which are expected to be published soon – was completed.
But its spokeswoman said: “All information the CQC receives informs our monitoring of services and future inspections.”
She added that the CQC is in regular contact with Cygnet and is continuing to assess all information received.
The CQC has also requested an urgent review be carried out following allegations concerning medication errors.
The home currently has an overall rating of ‘good’ after inspectors in February 2020 said the service provided safe care, was clean and employed staff who managed risk well and followed good safeguarding practices.
However, it was deemed to require improvement in some areas linked to safety.
Blanket restrictions put in place to keep patients safe were criticised by inspectors but were reviewed and modified following the inspection.
And the CQC found some staff were not adequately trained in areas including safeguarding, aggression management and suicide prevention.
Inspectors also identified missed medication doses.
--
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel