A HOSPITAL has been told to make urgent improvements after inspectors found failings ranging from the availability of toilet paper to a lack of glass in windows.

Care Quality Commission inspectors visited the Oak View Hospital in Crockenhill Road, St Mary Cray, in April and discovered toilet paper was only available to patients on request.

It found wiring was exposed as well as windows without glass in areas of the hospital under refurbishment.

There were also problems with recruitment procedures, including a lack of proper CRB checks, and care plans were not properly carried out.

As a result, the hospital, which treats young people with mental health needs or learning disabilities, has been hit with four warning notices by the CQC.

Deputy director of CQC in London Matthew Trainer said: "The standards of quality and safety in care that CQC checks are those that the law says everyone should expect. These standards exist to protect vulnerable people – who cannot always speak up for themselves – from being put at risk of harm.

"Hospitals like Oak View have a duty to protect the safety and welfare of people in their care. It is very worrying that it is currently failing in four different areas; respecting people and involving them in their care, safety of premises, assessing the quality of the care provided, and recruiting staff appropriately.

"Our inspectors will return in the near future to carry out another unannounced inspection. If we find that the hospital is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers further to protect the people who use the service."

The hospital said it was now compliant with all the notices.


Director of Oakview Estates Limited Yvonne Gosset said: "We welcome the excellent work that CQC are now undertaking in upholding the regulations and guidelines set to ensure the safety and care of the young adolescents in our care.

"Oakview Hospital has existed supporting the NHS mental health secure services for some 10 years and throughout that time, we have held an excellent reputation for the safety and security of those in our care – a reputation we hold dear and are determined to maintain.

"We have implemented all the areas brought to our attention by CQC and believe we are now performing in excess of those guidelines.

"We are conducting our own compliance visits on a regular basis to ensure that the required essential standards are maintained and indeed exceeded."