From what I saw, most people ended up leaving Huntercombe worse than when they arrived.. 0000096222 00000 n Police are investigating the death of a young girl at The Huntercombe Maidenhead mental health hospital in February. During Femails investigation, we heard accounts from severalformer Huntercombe patients. Active Care Group claimed that the high number of reports was a sign of best practice, indicating a safer culture. "There'd be two people - two grown adults laying across your leg, one on either arm and someone on your head holding your head in place, and that's five adults to one kid," she said. "Listening to the evidence around Mia's death and how she managed to take her own life within such a supposedly secure unit was disgusting," Tori said. The Huntercombe Group closed down three of its children's mental health units, but two remain open - the Maidenhead unit in Berkshire where Amber and 'Sally' went, and another in Stafford. Fly the flag in style: JO ELVIN's got red, white and blue Coronation style covered. One time I saw a female patient attempt suicide. She was discharged in March 2016 without adequate support, she claims. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Overall: Inadequate. More than 50 former Huntercombe patients have spoken to Sky News as part of a joint investigation with The Independent. Girls would self-harm and there would be blood up the walls from where theyd hit their heads, she recalls. 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. 0000096844 00000 n 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.. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Amber Rehman, who told Sky News "I've been suicidal all my life", was 15 when she went into the Maidenhead unit with serious mental health problems. 0000096475 00000 n Huntercombe Young People Ltd took over the site in March 2021, after the previous provider of the hospital was rated inadequate and was put under special measures. Even one member of staff came forward to share her harrowing experience. 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. Taplow Manor School is a registered Independent Special School. The postcode to use for the Sat-Nav is SL6 0PQ. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 2 Academic Unit of Psychology, Developmental Brain-Behaviour Laboratory, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, Maidenhead, UK. Her mother told us: "The restraints themselves were often brutal, lengthy and painful. Nikki challenged the methods used to treat Amber, but says she wasn't listened to. 0000100735 00000 n This is about childrens human right to be kept safe. Now after my rehabilitation I am not only going back home, I'm going back to work. At least one standard in this area was not being met when we inspected the service and 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. That was certainly the case for Bonnie. The Huntercombe Group closed down three of its children's mental health units, but two remain open - the Maidenhead unit in Berkshire where Amber and 'Sally' went, and another in Stafford. "This closure is testament to the strength and tenacity of the children and their families who have suffered in these places.". Youre a waste of space.. And she told us: "The unit wasn't very hygienic there was blood all over the walls.". Neve Smith, a 20-year-old biomedical student at Southampton University, was admitted to Kennet ward in August 2015, aged 13. 0000018536 00000 n The DHSC was approached, but would not comment specifically on sexual incident allegations. It also builds upon the feedback we have received from young people and their families about what matters to them. Julie says Bonnie saw the doctors in charge of the ward very seldom. Kate nails sporty chic in 600 Mountain Equipment jacket, 110 jeans and 175 walking Slice of pep-heir-oni? 0000068937 00000 n Inadequate "I saw the children whacking their heads. They all say they were failed by the care they received from a single provider - The Huntercombe Group, one of a number of independent providers the NHS uses to provide specialist in-patient care for children and young people. NHS England paid Huntercombe almost 190m in the years since 2015. 0000011966 00000 n They also allege that an ungloved hand was thrust into her mouth during one restraint. 0000107933 00000 n Farewell NHS Covid app but is the pandemic actually over? We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels: Outstanding the service is performing badly and we've taken enforcement action against the provider of the service. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was inadequate in February but its operator has changed . Taplow Manor is a specialist child and adolescent mental health inpatient service managed by Active Care Group. A young female patient also made a report to the police of an alleged rape by another patient in 2019. HUNDREDS of people have demanded a mental health hospital to close down after a patient tragically passed away. This has hugely impacted staff and ultimately contributed in part to this regrettable decision to close our CAMHs beds which is the worst outcome for patients.. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Exclusive: Taplow Manor, formerly owned by The Huntercombe Group, set to close after series of care concerns raised, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 in the UK, or email jo@samaritans.org. The provider of this service changed. The regulators report cited concerns that medication was being inappropriately used to manage aggression and distressed behaviour, describing this practice as chemical restraint. Huntercombe Hospital, Huntercombe Lane South,Maidenhead, is a specialist child and adolescentmental healthinpatient service, including psychiatric intensive care units for young people. Julie visited Bonnie once a week. 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. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's The waiting time for psychology and family therapy was six weeks and there were "too few" specialists employed at the hospital. Huntercombe Hospital, Huntercombe Lane South, Maidenhead, is a specialist child and adolescent mental health inpatient service, including psychiatric intensive care units for young people. 3 Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, . I came forward about the sexual abuse I experienced by a Huntercombe staff member in the hope that future patients would be protected. The hospital, based in Huntercombe Lane South, treats children and young people aged 12 to 18 who have been detained under the mental health act, who have eating disorders and who have other mental health conditions. Bonnie Fuller, 16, explains how she was left with PTSD after a stay in the hospital. 0000107816 00000 n At first, her parents were impressed. Lyra Williams was at two Huntercombe units - Watcombe Hall in Devon and Maidenhead - between 2013 and 2017. ACG Holdco Limited1 Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1YLCompany Number 11157123,Registered in England and Wales. Maidenhead, Note: this article is the subject of a complaint from the owners of Taplow Manor in respect of the number of sexual safety incidents reported. 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. "I think it's awful. HuntercombeHospital Maidenheadisregisteredtoprovidethefollowingregulatedactivities; assessmentormedicaltreatmentforpersonsdetainedundertheMental HealthAct1983 diagnosticandscreeningprocedures treatmentofdisease, disorderorinjury. The patient claimed staff were "uneducated" in treating eating disorders, and would "argue" with her. Watcombe Hall closed in 2017 after it was placed in special measures. By then she was desperate to die andmade several attempts on my life. Jane said her stay at the unit "broke" her, adding: "It made things worse. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Danielle Middleton was an inpatient at Maidenhead at the same time, between 2014 and 2016. 0000011256 00000 n It is now rated requires improvement after the Care Quality Commission found a number of improvements. Although this is not uncommon in anorexia treatment, she says the tube was repeatedly and painfully inserted and removed against guidelines published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Instead she recalls: There were times I was banging my head against the wall, and although Im slight, Id have four men restraining me. The government must learn lessons from its past failings in order to protect patients.. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Huntercombe Lane South, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 0PQ. No rating/under appeal/rating suspended She stayed for more than two years. Where we find issues we have taken, and continue to take, decisive action. The hospital had already been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and placed in special measures in February 2021. Were surrounded by wonderful greenery and encourage outdoor activities like gardening and sports where appropriate. 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. She said it led to her making "an attempt" three or four times a day. threatened with closure by the NHS safety watchdog, Save over 10% on everything with the Boots advantage card, 15% off all first time bookings over 45 - Treatwell promo code, 30% off selected brands with this Notino discount code, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. 0000107855 00000 n However, a spokesperson said: We deliver our services in line with specifications set out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and NICE, and we are regulated by the CQC. From the west, Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead can be accessed via Bath Road (A4) from Maidenhead town centre. She looked like shed been in a fight. She also claims that patients on high observation levels, because they were at risk of self-harm, were left to go to their rooms alone. From company updates to stress relieving tips and mental health management, and even podcasts were always releasing industry leading content. She recalled one female staff member crying because she didn't know how to help her. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? I've got a 1 ot 1 each day, and all the staff are really nice and kind. Distress and fear, but also relief that Bonnie would receive the help she so desperately needed. 169 54 Huntercombe Hospital - Maidenhead provides specialist child and adolescent mental health inpatient service (CAMHS), including psychiatric intensive care for young people. After The Independent revealed accusations of patients being heavily restrained, force-fed and facing systemic abuse, the NHS stopped sending patients to the hospital. Being here has really changed my life for the better. 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. Our model of care is clinically led and has been put together by our doctors, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social worker and other experts in this field. A patient who went into the Maidenhead unit in 2021, who wants to remain anonymous, said she "came in with a little bit of trauma and came out with a lot more". 0000011119 00000 n NHS England and the Thames Valley provider collaborative have been approached for comment. I was told, If you tell anyone, well lock you up and throw away the key, and Nobodys going to believe you., Police investigated, but no charges were ever brought, she said, adding: There is this idea that someone can rape and sexually abuse children with mental illnesses because they dont matter as much. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. 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. Huntercombe Group During unprecedented times like these, it is more important than ever that we show our appreciation to the people who continue to care for the young people in our services despite the ongoing pandemic. "Every single day I was getting bruises all over my body. The service previously operated under the name Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, but has since changed management. Julie felt staff didnt attempt to follow this guidance. Suspended ratings are being reviewed by us and will be published soon. 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). The CQC found the hospital had a vacancy rate of 40% for registered nursing staff and that 53% of nursing shifts, between 31 May and 27 June, were covered by agency staff. An NHS spokesperson said: The overriding priority for the NHS and all parties, must be the care and safety of patients in Taplow Manor. The young people all said they were failed by the care they received from the group, one of a number of independent providers the NHS uses to provide specialist in-patient care for children and young people. Please fill out the form below and our services team will respond quickly and efficiently to your enquiry. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Disney faces countersuit in feud with Florida, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour, Explosion derails train in Russian border region. Kate changes into 379 jacket from Alexa Chung's Barbour collection as she and Prince A royally BIG portrait! READ MORE:Berkshire schools: Parents fined for not taking children to school. Many abuses have been committed, and continue to be committed, in MH in-patient units across the UK. The 7ha site is bounded to the north by the grounds of a research laboratory, to the west by Huntercombe Lane South, to the east by the Huntercombe spur of the M4 motorway, and to the south by Huntercombe Farmhouse and a path which runs east of it. A spokesperson for Active Care Group, which merged with the Huntercombe Group last Christmas Eve, confirmed a young patient tragically passed away at the John Radcliffe hospital on Monday, February 14 but did not provide further details. 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". Other patients make similarly disturbing claims. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. At this point, however, the parents put their faith in the hospital, unaware Bonnies experience there would leave her with PTSD. "They'd hold you down and you'd be crying screaming. Why not be the first? Any other browser may experience partial or no support. Taplow Manor provides specialist mental health services for children and young people aged 12 to 18. Read about our approach to external linking. A staff member working at the hospital was jailed for grooming and sexual assault of patients shortly after. Looking at our testimonies as a whole, a pattern emerged of complaints about over-restraint and concerns of inadequate staffing. Jane's care was examined in a subsequent independent review shared with Sky News. I was screaming and pressing the alarm but it took for ever for help to arrive. Your feedback can help improve the quality of service, and can also help other patients. 0000080763 00000 n She was monosyllabic. Active Care Group has been providing complex care for over 30 years. We have a dedicated team ready to assist you with whatever you need. But what we will be seeing is the tip of the iceberg.. After I suffered a brain injury I was unable to speak, I didn't know what a window or a door was. There's no need for the service to take further action. And it's care which the NHS is paying millions for every year. Statistics show that 48 per cent of patients who made claims in the last quarter received psychological support after making an allegation. The Huntercombe Group, now part of Active Care Group, ran the unit as well as other hospitals. Id describe some of the things I saw at Huntercombe as hell on earth, Steph says. One of those patients, Nima Hunt, has waived her right to anonymity in order to speak out. the service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve. She said: "Overall, my stay was a traumatic, lonely and isolating year and a half. Official information from NHS about The Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead including contact details, directions, opening hours and service/treatment details hb```@9e!0!I$}.y +DFP 4 C8d3H|```Ad4%1)yv " @ayV[N0. A spokesperson said: Taplow Manor is the largest unit of its type in the country, and the number of incidents reflects that. And in 2020 and 2021 the NHS was alerted to 195 safeguarding incidents across the Stafford and Maidenhead units. Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, based in Huntercombe Lane South, Taplow, provides specialist child and adolescent mental health inpatient service, including psychiatric intensive care for young . Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead is located on Huntercombe Lane South to the east of Maidenhead. She saidthere simply werent enough of them and they werent well trained. 0000100094 00000 n We put Why I've ditched a lifetime of possessions and downsized at 70 for my children. "There'd be two people - two grown adults laying across your leg, one on either arm and someone on your head holding your head in place, and that's five adults to one kid," she says. Taplow Manor will be the third childrens hospital owned by the former Huntercombe Group to be closed following concerns over poor care. The postcode to use for the Sat-Nav is SL6 0PQ. It was heartbreaking. (01628) 667881, Provided and run by: 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. Neve repeatedly swallowed objects she believed would seriously harm her. Her family made a formal complaint to the hospital in April 2020. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Despite significant improvements noted in the latest CQC inspection, Taplow Manor has received a disproportionate amount of media attention in recent years. 0000022308 00000 n 7 Langone Medical Center, Child Study Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA. The regular inspections carried out by the CQC since then have raised serious questions over care. 6 Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead, Maidenhead, UK. She explains how she was let down by Huntercombe Hospital in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The car park is located in front and to the side of the hospital. She was desperate to get her out not an easy process, since Bonnie had been sectioned. She is one of a large group of teenagers, most of who don't know each other, Sky News has spoken to as part of an investigation with The Independent. We're here to help people live the very best life possible. The incident led to an outcry from former patients who started a petition to seek the hospitals closure. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. But the teenagers also spoke of the trauma caused by their experiences, and how they felt the units were not places where they would get better. Bonnie refused to tell her mother what had happened. Learn More It comes after the Huntercombe Group closed its Watcombe Hall unit in Devon after a nurse was convicted of the grooming and sexual abuse of two patients. Another patient, who wanted to remain anonymous, and who was in the Maidenhead unit between 2018 and 2019, told Sky News she is now unable to live independently. Our goal is to care for people and help them lead rich, rewarding and meaningful lives, however that looks for them. Months later, a tragic incident resulted in the death of a young girl on the ward. 0000068867 00000 n We are dedicated to providing caring, supportive, recovery-focused treatment and we achieve this by working together with our young people, their families and other professionals. 9 Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. There are a lot of patients who maybe caused significant harm to themselves, which could have been avoided had we had more staff.". Windsor, Until moving to my current unit, I began to believe that the way they dealt with me and my mental illness was right and what I deserved. A spokesperson for Active Care group said the "difficult" decision to close the hospital was made after the Thames Valley. the service is performing well and meeting our expectations. Sky News can reveal NHS England has paid The Huntercombe Group now Active Care Group - almost 190m since 2015. Amber was 15 when she went into the Maidenhead unit with serious mental health problems. the service is performing exceptionally well. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 1st Floor, Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Wales, NP20 1DW Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. The Active Care Group says it is unable to comment on incidents that occurred before it took over The Huntercombe Group. 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 . Situated in Maidenhead, we specialise in supporting young people with severe or complex mental health conditions who need intensive inpatient treatment. Ofsted Registered Independent Special School. Last month it was revealed that a further sexual assault, at a unit in Stafford owned by Active Care Group, had been reported to the police in recent weeks. Go outdoors: TV presenter Gethin Jones reveals the one lesson he's learned from life. Read more:The shocking truth of life in a children's mental health unit'Inadequate staffing' at Berkshire mental health unit 'put young people at risk''Treated worse than animals''It just felt like they'd given up on me'. Is climate change killing Australian wine? 0000001690 00000 n Following The Independents reports, the government launched an independent rapid review, though this has been criticised for focusing only on the data held on mental health services rather than taking a more comprehensive approach. 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, Pinned down, force-fed and drugged into zombie-like state: Systemic abuse at childrens hospitals revealed, Whistleblowers claim children seriously harmed at scandal-hit mental health hospitals, Police investigating rape of child at scandal-hit mental health hospital, I waited nine months then had to move house to get any mental health care, NHS doctors stuck in Sudan after evacuation, union warns. Its you thats doing this. And I am like: Youre fighting against flesh.. Adventure Princess! We recommend using one of the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player, "When I used to be restrained people would hold me down for hours and hours. She stayed for more than two years. If there was as little as one mouthful left, the girl would have a nasogastric tube fitted (which went up the nasal passage, down the throat, and into the stomach) and would be given the equivalent of that same meal all over again. In 2014 The Huntercombe Group was successfully sued by Natasha Beauchamp for failing to provide appropriate psychiatric treatment. I saw children with psychosis have outbursts and staff would just say: I wish shed keep quiet. They said self-harm was attention seeking. . The Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead The Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead -Ratings and reviews Contents Contents. "Since moving to another hospital, I realise that how I was treated at Huntercombe was incredibly wrong.". She told The Independent: Lessons could and should have been learnt from the complaints and patient experiences of Huntercombe CAMHS hospitals dating from 10 years ago. Were here to talk to you about any care needs you may require. Some of the former patients we've gathered testimonies from were in these units as recently as February and March this year. The patient herself told us she self-harmed in a way that left the wall covered in blood. All patients are encouraged to attend school during term time where education is provided to pupils from Key Stage 3 through . The private unit is now finally due to be closed after an investigation by The Independent revealed allegations of verbal and physical abuse, prompting the NHS to withdraw patients. 169 0 obj <> endobj xref Her eyes were swollen shut, and she had a black eye. 'They'd hold you down and you'd be crying screaming'. It was deeply painful., Neve Smith (pictured), a 20-year-old biomedical student at Southampton University, was admitted to Kennet ward in August 2015, aged 13. The use of restraint was, at times, "coercive", and it recommended an urgent audit of the use of restraint. In 2020, the Care Quality Commission warned that sexual incidents are commonplace on mental health wards. This service was archived on 5 March 2021, Archived services are ones which are no longer part of a provider's registration with CQC. They started struggling to fit it, [but] would carry on anyway; sort of punching the back of my nose. Four years on, she remains visibly distressed by her experience. Please report any comments that break our rules. We draw on a wide range of evidence to help inform how we treat and support every young person we care for. Archived services are ones which are no longer part of a provider's registration with CQC. Any other browser may experience partial or no support. Huntercombe (No 12) Limited. A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said its rapid review does not preclude any future inquiries and ministers are considering all options.

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