HEALTHCARE experts have accused West London Mental Health Trust of putting patients at risk because it failed to properly investigate suicides and learn from serious incidents.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says problems have not been effectively tackled for years. The independent regulator flagged up a lack of beds, poor training and staff shortages as well as poor healthcare and run down buildings.
The investigation looked at services in Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham.
The report said buildings dating from the 1830s in St Bernard's, a secure hospital in Uxbridge Road, Southall, had to be upgraded urgently.
It added there had been infestations of mice and cockroaches and many of the wards had poor ventilation.
The probe was triggered by concerns that patients may be at risk because the trust did not respond properly to serious incidents, including suicides.
The trust provided 95 reports into serious incidents that occurred between 2005 and 2007. Thirty-one related to the suicide of a patient and five related to attempted suicide.
CQC chairman Barbara Young said: "The same problems were raised on a number of occasions, yet the trust's response was slow and piecemeal. The trust was good at writing policies, but not good at putting them into action."
A spokesman for the West London Mental Health Trust said: "The trust has invested in improving the buildings, but we recognise their limitations and are in the process of producing a strategic out-line case for the development of the estate, which will go to our board this autumn prior to submission to NHS London.
"We have re-looked at the provision of physical healthcare for our patients in Ealing.
"They already have access to physiotherapy, chiropody and an optician, and we are now sourcing a GP and practice nurse to enhance primary healthcare provision for patients."
