Mental health

Private hospitals Canadian REIT bags four London hospitals

Toronto-based NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust has acquired four private hospitals in London from Aspen Healthcare for £260 million.

The Canadian company, which bought six BMI hospitals for £97.8 The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) has published new information about serious patient safety incidents for private acute care. This is the first time that a comprehensive dataset of ‘Never Events’ – serious patient safety incidents, involving privately funded patients has been published in the UK.

The information covers the care provided at 287 independent hospitals and NHS private patient units offering acute private treatments, which between them account for an estimated 86% of Mental health The Care Quality Commission has taken action following the identification of physical and emotional abuse of patients at a Cygnet mental health hospital in Essex.

The CQC inspected Cygnet Yew Trees in Kirby-le-Soken, on 24 and 30 July, and on 4 August. There were eight people using the service at the time of inspection, although there is no one currently resident at the service.

The unannounced inspection was prompted by allegations of patient abuse, raised with CQC by Cygnet Health Care, which were substantiated when million in February, said the latest deal provided it with ‘an attractive portfolio with which to seed a future UK joint venture’.

“The addition of the London portfolio is strategically important to have as it increases the scale of the REIT’s UK portfolio to more privately funded admitted patient care.

The data, for the whole of last year, show that 21 Never Events involving non-NHS (insured or selfpay) patients were reported. They were: Wrong site surgery (5); Wrong implant/prosthesis (11); Retained foreign object post procedure (2); Mis-selection of a strong potassium solution (1); and Administration of medication by the wrong route (2).

The data adds to the wealth of information already published about serious incidents involving NHS patients, which is routinely inspectors viewed closed-circuit television revealing some staff physically and emotionally abusing patients. Footage also showed some staff acting disrespectfully towards people in their care, intimidating them through aggressive behaviour and violating their human rights.

In response, Cygnet suspended staff, made referrals to the police and offered psychological support to patients who experienced abuse.

CQC deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health, Dr Kevin Cleary, said: “Our latest inspection of Cygnet than $620 million and positions it for further growth in partnership with the region’s leading healthcare operators,” the REIT said in its Q2 trading statement. “It also diversifies the REIT’s UK operator mix and brings its focus into major UK healthcare markets.” collected and published when they receive NHS funded care in a NHS or independent hospital.

Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, chair of PHIN, said: “The publication of these Never Events is an important step-change in transparency. This will be helpful for patients when deciding the right provider for their care, but it is also important that the information is available to hospitals, consultants and others within the sector.

“Never Events have to be reported so that lessons are learnt and actions taken to ensure they cannot happen Yew Trees revealed that people who lived there were being subjected not only to poor care, but to abuse. Some staff who had witnessed this abuse did not escalate it. Although they may have feared the consequences of speaking out against colleagues who had abused patients, their failure to act perpetuated abuse and allowed a culture of poor care to become established.

“Cygnet’s leadership has made efforts to address the harm people experienced while in its care, including suspending staff and making police referrals. This does not change or excuse the fact that a culture was allowed

North-West’s move follows on the Medical Properties Trust £1.5 billion acquisition of 30 BMI hospitals as the start of 2020 and is seen by some as part of a growing interest from North American investors in the UK private hospital

New data reveals patient safety incidents in private acute care

sector. again. This means that the reporting, investigation and learning is a powerful safety ‘call to action’ in itself and should always lead to an improvement in processes and quality of care as a result. We hope publication of this information will stimulate that process of continuous improvement.”

The publication of this information follows a 2014 investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, which found there was a lack of information about quality, safety and price for patients considering

Cygnet mental health hospital abused patients

private treatment in the UK. to develop at this hospital which led to people suffering abuse.

“Any enforcement action we may take will be published as soon as legal restrictions allow.”

Cygnet Yew Trees is a 10bed hospital which cares for women over the age of 18 living with learning disabilities and mental health needs. It is rated Inadequate by CQC and subject to enforcement action. Last year a number of Cygnet hospitals were placed in special measures by the regulator and Whorlton Hall in Cheshire was closed after a BBC Panorama undercover investigation revealed evidence of patient abuse.