Secure hospital is improving, report says

Concerns over the quality of care at Rampton had been raised a number of times

A high-security psychiatric hospital has made significant improvement since a damning report, officials have been told.

In January 2024, Rampton Hospital was rated "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and faced further criticism - along with the wider healthcare trust - over its care of murderer Valdo Calocane.

In October, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) put in place an improvement plan and has now presented a progress report to the county council.

The report states the CQC has formally closed ten warning notices after reviewing evidence of the improvements made at the hospital.

Patient safety

Rampton provides services to people who are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and are classified as having a learning disability, mental illness or psychopathic disorder.

The January report rated it inadequate for being effective, safe and well-led.

In March a further review in the aftermath of the Nottingham knife attacks, known as a Section 48, found care had improved but areas of concerns remained around staffing, patient safety, communication with patients and leadership.

The new report to the council listed draft conclusions from a series of fresh inspections by the CQC in the autumn.

In these the safe category had changed from inadequate to requires improvement, while effective had gone from inadequate to good and responsive had risen from requires improvement to good.

'Amazing work'

The Section 48 report contained seven recommendations for Rampton, including pairing with another high secure hospital as a 'critical friend', appointing a review of staff requirements and halting the use of therapy and education staff to support staff numbers on the wards.

The county council has been told these recommendations have either been completed or are on track for delivery.

NHFT said it was now awaiting formal notice of a decision by the National Oversight Group for High Security Health Services to renew the licence to operate Rampton Hospital, which had been questioned in December.

Diane Hull, executive director of nursing and quality at the trust, said: "Our colleagues at Rampton have done some amazing work in improving overall patient experience as well as reducing the use of restrictive practices, amongst a range of other achievements.

"But while we've seen very promising evidence of progress, we are mindful of the specific risks and remaining challenges at Rampton. The changes we've introduced have delivered substantial results, but there is a significant way to go in our improvement plans.

"We remain committed to working with our partners and regulators, as we await formal notification from the CQC regarding any changes to our quality ratings."

The CQC said it would comment when its latest report was published.