A hospital that kept a teenage girl with autism in a ‘cell’ and fed her through a hatch has been ordered to bring in independent medics to review the care it provides.
Bethany, 17, endured long periods of segregation at St Andrew’s Healthcare, in Northampton, for 18 months before a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Bethany, who has spent around two years at St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton
Paul Lelliott is deputy chief inspector of hospitals for the CQC. He told St Andrew’s to bring in independent medics to assess the use of long-term segregation.
The CQC inspected the adolescent ward at St Andrew’s after Bethany’s father, Jeremy, raised concerns.
Independent reviews missing
St Andrew’s had not arranged independent reviews of patients in long-term segregation in line with the Mental Health Act code of practice.
Jeremy, who wants to be identified only by his first name, wrote on Twitter that hospitals are not “the right places for people with autism and learning difficulties”.
Jeremy says his daughter has pathological demand avoidance (PDA). The condition can see everyday demands trigger massive anxiety.
Lelliott said St Andrew’s must take every step possible to ensure “young people are not being secluded for longer than is strictly necessary”.
Senior clinicians and managers concluded they could not meet the needs of three patients.
57 incidents of staff injury
Between July 31 and October 31 2018, the hospital recorded 57 incidents of staff injury.
During one incident, five different staff members went to the local A&E for facial, head and abdomen injuries.
Lelliott added that staff worked actively to protect people. He said they involved patients in planning their care. He also said they encouraged patients to keep in contact with important people in their lives.
A St Andrew’s spokesperson said independent reviews of long-term segregation were now taking place.
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Published: 28 February 2019
