Date Published: 9 March 2010

UK Care Quality Commission prosecutes Yorkshire-based mental health hospital operator

The operator of the Yorkshire-based mental health hospital, Linden House, has been ordered to pay £17,015 in fines and costs relating to breaches of the Care Standards Act 2000.

At Beverley Magistrates’ Court on 2 March, Linden House operator, Care Principles Limited, pleaded guilty to five charges relating to the administration of medication.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) brought the case against Care Principles, which manages the low to medium-secure hospital in Market Weighton near York.

The charges relate to evidence CQC collected at the hospital during unannounced visits in September 2008.

Despite on-going issues largely being rectified since they were found, the company was prosecuted over its failure to provide the minimum legal standards of care.

CQC senior enforcement manager Tim Weller said:

" We are encouraged that the standards of care for patients at Linden House have improved since legal proceedings against the operator started, although it is disappointing that legal action was required before standards were addressed.

We hope the quality of care for these vulnerable patients continues to improve and will be scrutinising the services at this hospital for the further improvements we expect to see."

CQC had previously found minimum standards were not being met at the hospital in relation to issues including staffing levels, observational levels and suicide/self harm audits were not being completed. The regulator notes improvements have been made in these areas following a regular inspection programme.

Linden House provides services for patients with a learning disability and for patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

About the CareQuality Commission: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of all health and adult social care in England. The CareQuality Commission inspects health and adult social care services in England, whether they're provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. It also protects the interests of people detained under the Mental Health Act. (Until 31 March 2009, this work was carried out by the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.)

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