A REPORT into an independent hospital in Wrexham found immediate action was required following breaches of the Mental Health Act.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) issued a report today (March 7) following an inspection of the independent mental health hospital, Tŷ Grosvenor in Wrexham.

The service provides specialist care for men over the age of 18 with mental health conditions and/or personality disorders.

HIW completed an unannounced inspection at the hospital on three consecutive days in November 2023, focusing on two wards, the Alwen Ward and the Brenig Ward.

A report was made to HIW regarding the hospital having "inadequate procedures with the management of medication".

Following a subsequent inspection of the hospital, HIW placed Tŷ Grosvenor into its Service of Concern process in November 2023, in an attempt to ensure "rapid action" was taken.

HIW say the inspection uncovered "multiple issues requiring immediate assurance due to issues of non-compliance around the application of the Mental Health Act", including incorrect recording of medication being administered to patients. 

During the inspection in November, HIW said they were "concerned" to find instances where documentation was not compliant with the Mental Health Act. 

Concerns included capacity assessments not always being undertaken to determine whether patients had the mental capacity to consent to treatment.

HIW's work found patients at the hospital had been prescribed types, or doses of medication, that had not been listed on the statutory certificate of consent form in place to authorise the treatment.

Nursing staff had administered medication to patients without checking that the type and dosage had been consented to, or which hadn’t been authorised by a Second Opinion Appointed Doctor.

Despite this, inspectors found suitable procedures were in place for the safe management of medicines, with medication fridges locked when not in use, and regular stock checks being undertaken.

Inspectors also found effective processes were in place to help ensure that staff at the hospital safeguarded patients appropriately and that patients were complimentary about the care being provided, telling inspectors they felt safer, which was an improvement since their last inspection at the hospital in July 2022.

The feedback provided by staff was generally positive with most agreeing that they would be happy with the standard of care provided for their friends or family. 

HIW said they continued to engage with Elysium Healthcare, the management company of Tŷ Grosvenor to seek further assurances, and in January 2024 they were satisfied adequate improvement had been made. The hospital was then de-escalated as a Service of Concern.

Chief Executive of HIW, Alun Jones said: "Our inspectors identified immediate concerns in relation to breaches of the Mental Health Act, which is in place to support some of the most vulnerable people.

"It is reassuring, however, to see improvements have been made since our previous inspection of Tŷ Grosvenor Hospital, which has now been de-escalated as a Service of Concern.

"We will continue to engage with the hospital’s management company to ensure the progress against our findings continues now and in the future."

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A spokesperson for Elysium Healthcare said: "The safety and well-being of our patients is always our highest priority and so we welcome the scrutiny that comes from our partners at the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW).

"Required improvements have been made regarding medicines administration, documentation systems and governance policies, and we look forward to continuing to provide the highest quality care and support for our patients.

"We are pleased that the service is now fully compliant with the inspectorate, and we thank the team at HIW for their guidance throughout this process."

Plaid Cymru’s Senedd Member for North Wales Llyr Gruffydd said: “The unannounced visit by Health Inspectorate Wales is a good example of the importance of ongoing oversight of all medical facilities. Although run by a private company, this hospital is still subject to that oversight and I welcome the intervention.

“It’s hugely concerning that patients at Tŷ Grosvenor were being prescribed medicines that they had not consented to and there were discrepancies in the medication actually administered compared to the paperwork. This is in breach of the Mental Health Act. Although it’s heartening that the situation has improved as a result of HIW’s inspection, this should not have happened in the first place.

“These are some of the most vulnerable people in our community and we need assurances that this will not happen again.”