There are a lot of patients who maybe caused significant harm to themselves, which could have been avoided had we had more staff.". Bonnie says she spent the first few days terrified and curled up in a ball on her bed. Inspectors said though the team had improved morale and the hospital was "cleaner and brighter", staff training was inconsistent and some felt they were not "adequately supported" in their roles. Those who've agreed for their names and photos to be used form a striking collection of young faces who needed help. We spoke to the sister of another patient, who wants to remain anonymous, who was at the Maidenhead unit between October 2019 and April 2020. Her recollections are corroborated by Steph Smith, 20, a carer from Bracknell, who describes the serious issues she witnessed at Huntercombe both as a patient, in 2017, and then as staff from December 2021 to March 2022. Despite significant improvements noted in the latest CQC inspection, Taplow Manor has received a disproportionate amount of media attention in recent years. It said the safety and care of its patients were a top priority and it was working to move patients from the hospital by end of May 2023. Overall: Inadequate. It has 59 beds in total, providing eating disorder services, general CAMHS inpatient services, and psychiatric intensive care services. In 2017 she spent three months in Leigh House, an NHS psychiatric service in Winchester. This service is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. She was admitted after trying to take her own life, but says "it was awful" and being there made things worse. Pioneering Care 24/7 Support Award-Winning Service Child and adolescent mental health care services. Fly the flag in style: JO ELVIN's got red, white and blue Coronation style covered. Danae says she was often injured during restraints, which "pretty much happened every day", and had her hair pulled out. Following its recent inspection of Taplow Manor, the CQC noted it is the only psychiatric intensive care unit wider geographical area. 0000012588 00000 n Danae says staff who were meant to be watching to keep her from harming herself would sometimes fall asleep. No rating/under appeal/rating suspended Any other browser may experience partial or no support. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. She says the reason she didnt speak up was that staff repeatedly told her: Your mum hates you, youre just a massive burden. trailer <<696EBCE7E3184A3FB78C3D28D8149D8D>]/Prev 1053251/XRefStm 1690>> startxref 0 %%EOF 222 0 obj <>stream The service previously operated under the name Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, but has since changed management. In response to the complaints made in the more than 20 testimonies we have gathered from former patients or their families about the care received at Huntercombe units she said: Two months after the takeover a patient at the Maidenhead unit - now called Taplow Manor - died. The postcode to use for the Sat-Nav is SL6 0PQ. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673), Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. ACG Holdco Limited1 Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1YLCompany Number 11157123,Registered in England and Wales. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? At first, her parents were impressed. 0000026117 00000 n All residents are encouraged to attend school during term time where education is provided to pupils from Key Stage 3 through to GCSEs and A-Levels. We recommend using one of the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari. Last year The Independent revealed that police were investigating the alleged rape of a child at Taplow Manor, involving two staff members. Amber's mother, Nikki Boughton-Smith, said: "You hand your child over thinking they're going to get the help and the care, and the minute you realise they're not getting that. and worse than ever you can't do anything about it.". Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Police investigating sexual assault at scandal-hit childrens hospital as watchdog threatens closure, Scandal-hit childrens hospital sanctioned by watchdog after systemic abuse revealed, Whistleblowers claim children seriously harmed at scandal-hit mental health hospitals, Government orders urgent review into safety of mental health patients in England, Ive been shoved, punched and spit on I believe Covid lockdowns are to blame, NHS slammed for sending children to hospital despite 1,600 sexual safety incidents, Thousands of sexual safety incidents at childrens hospitals not reported to watchdog, Scandal-hit hospital to close after investigation by The Independent. Figures obtained from the NHS show that Huntercombe's Maidenhead unit, Taplow Manor, was behind 57 per cent of the 2,875 sexual incidents and assaults reported to England's child and adolescent. If this service has not had a CQC inspection since it registered with us, our judgement may be based on our assessment of declarations and evidence supplied by the service. At this point, however, the parents put their faith in the hospital, unaware Bonnies experience there would leave her with PTSD. I saw a child kneeing herself in the face. Yet she quickly became alarmed by what she describes as a profound lack of care, resulting in the death of a patient earlier this year, the full details of which cannot yet be disclosed. 0000107933 00000 n The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. They held weekly reviews of her case, but she declined to attend the meetings after being ridiculed at one. Digital picture of King Charles which features thousands of individual drawings Do not sell or share my personal information. She describes returning to Huntercombe, where she worked on the psychiatric intensive ward, as a real full-circle moment. The incident is being investigated by Thames Valley Police and the CQC. What it looks like. A spokesperson for Active Care group said the "difficult" decision to close the hospital was made after the Thames Valley. 9 Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 in the UK, or email jo@samaritans.org. Yet the latest CQC report, published in August, gives Taplow Manor the higher grade of requires improvement. She recalled one female staff member crying because she didn't know how to help her. Editors' Code of Practice. From what I saw, most people ended up leaving Huntercombe worse than when they arrived.. Taplow Manor provides specialist mental health services for children and young people aged 12 to 18. Alice, now 18 years old,says during that time she learned new ways to self-harm. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. The Huntercombe Group has been aware of serious criticisms for years. One of those patients, Nima Hunt, has waived her right to anonymity in order to speak out. 0000068743 00000 n Words cannot express how much that means to me and my family. Contact us Address Huntercombe Lane South Taplow Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 0PQ Get directions (opens in Google Maps) Phone 01628 667881 Online Visit Hospital website Send email to Hospital Find another hospital What patients say There are currently no reviews for The Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead. Kate takes Charlotte to watch Cinderella at the Royal Opera House ahead of her 8th A new Coronation do? hb```@9e!0!I$}.y +DFP 4 C8d3H|```Ad4%1)yv " @ayV[N0. the service is performing exceptionally well. Free on-site parking is available to family and friends of all our residents, and we actively encourage you to visit. Some young patients were given sleep drugs not licensed for under-18s. Taplow Manor will be the third childrens hospital owned by the former Huntercombe Group to be closed following concerns over poor care. The hospital had already been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and placed in special measures in February 2021. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Due to patient numbers reducing, we will lose specialist staff and therefore the ability to provide an effective and safe service to these young people. It is now rated requires improvement after the Care Quality Commission found a number of improvements. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. The government must learn lessons from its past failings in order to protect patients.. A mental health hospital for young people must still make improvements in several areas, inspectors have said. The details remain raw and it's clear what an enormous emotional toll her time at the Huntercombe unit has taken on the entire family. It led to Huntercombecommissioning an independent review, by Contact Consulting. Overview; Departments and services; Facilities; Ratings and reviews; Leave a review; No reviews. Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, in Berkshire, cares for children between the ages of 12 and 18. SL4 5UL, In Published: 22:44 BST, 2 November 2022 | Updated: 22:44 BST, 2 November 2022. The CQC has been notified about more than 700 incidents - which included serious injuries, whistleblowing or sexual safety concerns - since 2015. From company updates to stress relieving tips and mental health management, and even podcasts were always releasing industry leading content. A third patient, who also wanted to remain anonymous, and was admitted to the Maidenhead unit in 2020, shared photographs of injuries to her legs and knuckles which she says were sustained during restraints. Youngsters told inspectors they did not feel safe at the Maidenhead unit and felt it should be shut down. 0000068264 00000 n The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Relatives said they had to call wards several times before staff answered the phone and long waits were recorded for some therapies. "A lot of other patients were using different self-harming methods - staff didn't stop them from doing that. Ellie Morgan started this petition. And in 2020 and 2021 the NHS was alerted to 195 safeguarding incidents across the Stafford and Maidenhead units. Day trips and other outings are always pre-planned and we like to travel in style with our own minibus allowing for safe travel. Also speaking to Sky News, lawyer Mark McGhee, who represents several former patients in the units run by the Huntercombe Group, said he had been told of allegations of "violations of human rights and serious physical, emotional and in some cases potential sexual abuse over a period well in excess of 10 years. It is a 60 bed independent hospital. Yet three years later in 2017 a CQC inspection into all of Huntercombe's children's mental health units highlighted concerns about staffing and observations, and raised questions over the systems to put lessons learned into practice. ", The CQC said: "Active Care Group is subject to close and ongoing monitoring. The physical injuries, the trauma and pain and suffering, and they were children. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Patients told us blood on the walls after episodes of head-banging wasn't cleaned up properly, which they found to be "triggering". Mia's mother told us she never received an apology from The Huntercombe Group. Figures obtained from the NHS show that Huntercombes Maidenhead unit, Taplow Manor, was behind 57 per cent of the 2,875 sexual incidents and assaults reported to Englands child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) over the past four years. Bonnie stopped communicating and would often walk out during their visits. we have taken enforcement action. This is how she describes her life now after her time at the unit: "I have pretty much daily seizures, walking difficulties, tics and more. Download our brochure to learn more about the services we provide at Active Care Group. 0000295425 00000 n The Huntercombe Group, now part of Active Care Group, ran the unit as well as other hospitals. The practice is permitted under NHS guidelines, but Huntercombe reinserted the tube for every feed, which is against best practice, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The move comes after an investigation by The Independent and Sky News heard from more than 50 patients who alleged systemic abuse by the provider, while Taplow Manor is facing two police probes one into a patient death and a second into the alleged rape of a child involving staff. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was inadequate in February but its operator has changed since then and it is now rated as requiring improvement. 0000096844 00000 n This means we have also aligned them with the five domains of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection standards to ensure we provide the very best care possible to all our residents. When Julie Fullers 16- year-old daughter was admitted to hospital with anorexia in 2018, she felt a mixture of emotions. 0000081167 00000 n 0000001690 00000 n Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. The whole thing.". My mum once watched in horror as four male members of staff pinned me to the ground just so they could give me drugs.. I cannot live independently.". Her eyes were swollen shut, and she had a black eye. Provided and run by: Active Young People Limited. ", The previous owners of The Huntercombe Group, Elli Investments Group, told us: "We regret that these hospitals and specialist care services, which were owned and independently managed by The Huntercombe Group, failed to meet the expected standards for high-quality care. Active Care Group has now confirmed the unit would close by the end of May, saying a decision by the NHS to stop admitting patients had rendered its "service untenable". 0000015017 00000 n the service is performing badly and we've taken enforcement action against the provider of the service. Dr Sylvia Tang has been the CEO since June 2020 - a year and a half before the merger. This is about childrens human right to be kept safe. Her mother told us: "The restraints themselves were often brutal, lengthy and painful. And police are investigating the death of a patient at the hospital as well as an allegation of a child rape involving staff. Dr Tang said: "The death of a young person at Taplow Manor in February 2022 was a tragic and sad event. At least one standard in this area was not being met when we inspected the service and Each unit has its own dedicated Consultant-led Multi-Disciplinary Team who have many years of experience in looking after young people with complex mental health conditions. Umairah Malik, of eating disorder charity Beat, says: Guidance states [force-feeding] is a last resort, and every other option must be exhausted: this might include a choice of foods or supplements, distraction techniques or extra support.. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? I am appalled to hear that there are ongoing police investigations against Active Care Group staff regarding the sexual assault of children in their care. Dr Rosena Allin Khan, Labours mental health spokesperson, told The Independent that the government must commit to tackling sexual incidents within inpatient units. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. there are some services which we cant rate, while some might be under appeal from the provider. 0000825441 00000 n 0000029927 00000 n One ex-member of staff told Femail she chose to leave after a patient died in tragic circumstances in February. Report published: 17 February 2021, We often carry out focussed inspections on individual services. 0000000016 00000 n Reacting to news of the hospital closure, her mother Nikki Boughton-Smith told Sky News it was a "really amazing first step in recognising that there's been years of abuse, neglect and wrongdoing". Taplow Manor is a Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) hospital for young people aged 12-18 with a diagnosed mental health condition. 0000003319 00000 n 'My skin was so bad I stopped going out': Expert reveals his 3 top skincare tips as women tell how an Kate and William's tribute to Aberfan: Solemn royals pay their respects in poignant visit 57 years after the Ballet princess! After I suffered a brain injury I was unable to speak, I didn't know what a window or a door was. I'd fall asleep sometimes. the service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve. SL6 0PQ, In At least one standard in this area was not being met when we inspected the service and, Find out more about our inspection reports, searching for the history of care services. The support we've had from Active Care Group has been brilliant, I can't believe there is anywhere else that could do such a wonderful job looking after my son Carlo. Its you thats doing this. And I am like: Youre fighting against flesh.. From the west, Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead can be accessed via Bath Road (A4) from Maidenhead town centre. the service is performing well and meeting our expectations. A spokesperson said: Taplow Manor is the largest unit of its type in the country, and the number of incidents reflects that. What it felt like and obviously the individual things that happen whilst you're there. Were here to talk to you about any care needs you may require. You are all awesome people. "This closure is testament to the strength and tenacity of the children and their families who have suffered in these places.". Huntercombe lies on the south-west edge of Slough, towards the south end of Burnham parish. There's no need for the service to take further action. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Julie felt staff didnt attempt to follow this guidance. She blamed the care she received for the deterioration in her condition, describing how she was restrained. An NHS England spokesperson said: Sexual misconduct, violence, harassment and abuse are criminal acts; all NHS organisations must have robust measures in place to ensure immediate action is taken in any cases reported to them, and this requirement applies equally to independent facilities providing services on behalf of the NHS.. Bonnie describes how she and other girls were repeatedly force-fed with a nasogastric tube. I was dragged into the feeding room and then held down. It said: Anyone receiving treatment in an inpatient mental health facility should receive safe, high-quality and compassionate care, and be treated with dignity and respect., Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. I started struggling more with eating. 2023 BBC. The catalogue of concerns and the criticism of Huntercombe is something which Tori Titheridge finds deeply disturbing. This service was archived on 5 March 2021, Archived services are ones which are no longer part of a provider's registration with CQC. Good She says: If Id had proper care and compassion, I dont think I would have felt so helpless. Taplow, She looked like shed been in a fight. We have a dedicated team ready to assist you with whatever you need. is run by At Taplow Manor we have aligned and agreed our strategic goals to define what we want our organisation to achieve. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Taplow Manor, which was formerly known as Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, as requires improvement following an inspection in June. Mental health hospital facing teen mistreatment claims to shut after Sky News investigation, Taplow Manor is set to close by the end of May, Amber Rehman blames the care she received for the deterioration in her mental health condition, Amber has detailed a catalogue of failings in her care, Patients of mental health units tell their story. There was this huge culture of blaming patients, and very Victorian [views], like [we were] fallen women These girls are mad. And not only that, but it must be your fault, because youre mad, so youre sexually unboundaried. 0000096222 00000 n Its Mental Health Awareness week from 915 May(mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mentalhealth-awareness-week)and we talk to Louise Makin, Head of Internal Communications & Engagement to, Undiagnosed Emerging Personality Disorder (UEPD). For advice on eating disorders, go to beateatingdisorders.org.uk; or for help in a crisis, call The Samaritans free. Inspectors found dried bloodstains on a wall in one ward, and were told patients were routinely self-harming by banging their heads against walls. "I saw the children whacking their heads. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's the service is performing badly and we've taken enforcement action against the provider of the service. It shouldn't be open. We recommend using one of the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari. ". And then when the restraint got too much they'd come in, pull your trousers down and IM [injection medication] you.". the service is performing exceptionally well. NHS England paid Huntercombe almost 190m in the years since 2015. Taplow Manor. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. She said it led to her making "an attempt" three or four times a day. Reported incidents can range from sexually inappropriate language to serious sexual assault and rape. After a brief period at a facility in Torquay, she was sent back to Huntercombe, where she stayed for another nine months. Maidenhead, HUNDREDS of people have demanded a mental health hospital to close down after a patient tragically passed away. She says it led to her making "an attempt" three or four times a day. The staff were so nice, says Julie. The Maidenhead unit is currently rated by inspectors from regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as "requiring improvement", and the Stafford unit as "inadequate". Windsor, 0000116329 00000 n It has been rated "good" by Ofsted and is a registered exam centre. READ MORE:Berkshire schools: Parents fined for not taking children to school. They also allege that an ungloved hand was thrust into her mouth during one restraint. She blames the care she received for the deterioration in her condition, describing how she was restrained. For services we haven't rated we use ticks and crosses to show whether we've asked them to take further action or taken enforcement action against them. Active Care Group claimed that the high number of reports was a sign of best practice, indicating a safer culture. Now after my rehabilitation I am not only going back home, I'm going back to work. The alleged failings at Taplow Manor in Berkshire, then run by The Huntercombe Group, put young people at risk, according to former workers. Jane's care was examined in a subsequent independent review shared with Sky News. We are carrying out a review of quality at Taplow Manor. Other patients make similarly disturbing claims. The following year, the NHS and the Royal College of Psychiatrists set up a group to tackle the problem. Months later, a tragic incident resulted in the death of a young girl on the ward. Youre a waste of space.. the service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve. See old profile. Active Care Group took over the Huntercombe Group Hospitals in 2021. Amber is now supported by her parents and her sister Zahra at the family home. Active Care Group took over the Huntercombe Group Hospitals in 2021. It felt as though she had died, and there was this thing that looked like my daughter sitting across from me, but I had no relationship with her. The hospital has capacity for 59 beds but at the time of the inspection in July could only admit 50 patients because of restrictions on its registration. In 2014 The Huntercombe Group was successfully sued by Natasha Beauchamp for failing to provide appropriate psychiatric treatment. CQC have also told the hospital to make urgent improvements to the way staff carry out observations to keep young people safe. Browser Support You can find out more about archived services and how you can use the information on our page about, Caring for people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act. Comments have been closed on this article. When patients tried to get help from the nurses station, they were ignored. As a 17 year old patient of the Maidenhead branch on the huntercombe group I have in the past few days gone through the trauma of the loss of a patient who was on my ward due to certain staff negligence, this negligence is enforced by management on a regular . What is clear from talking to Amber, her family and other former Huntercombe patients, is how they struggled with inadequate care which they were told was "normal". We are committed to providing caring, supportive, recovery-focused treatment and we achieve this by working together with our young people, their families, and other professionals. Lyra Williams was at two Huntercombe units - Watcombe Hall in Devon and Maidenhead - between 2013 and 2017. She was discharged after nine months but relapsed and was sent to a different hospital, aged 17, where I had lots of therapy and made a real recovery.