NHS Trust Takes Over Care of Patients From St Andrew’s Hospital

Mental health patients previously cared for by St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton have been transferred to the management of an NHS trust following serious concerns about safety at the hospital.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has taken responsibility for a number of specialist services previously operated by St Andrew’s, with patients returning to parts of the Northampton site but now receiving their care under the NHS trust’s stewardship.

The move follows a decision by NHS England earlier this year to remove 287 inpatients from St Andrew’s because of safety concerns. Patients, relatives and whistleblowers had described a culture of abuse at the hospital, while 15 members of staff had been arrested since October following allegations including rape, ill-treatment and neglect.

As part of the new arrangements, NHFT has leased several buildings from St Andrew’s Healthcare, including William Wake House and Fitzroy House. Care will also be provided to some patients at neighbouring Smyth House and Kemsley House.

Services transferred to the NHS trust include Midlands male medium and low-secure inpatient services, the national secure service for D/deaf patients and the national secure male acquired brain injury service. NHFT has also taken responsibility for some additional patients who require longer-term arrangements away from St Andrew’s.

Angela Hillery, chief executive of NHFT, said the immediate priority had been ensuring patients and staff were safe from the first day of the new arrangements. She said the transfer would provide greater certainty for patients, carers and NHS staff while the services continue on an improvement journey.

St Andrew’s Healthcare will continue operating other services, including inpatient care at its hospitals in Birmingham and Essex, as well as adult care services in Northampton and Nottinghamshire, outpatient services and specialist research.

The transfer represents a significant change for people receiving highly specialised mental health care at the site. Attention will now turn to whether the new NHS-led arrangements can provide the safety, stability and quality of care patients and their families need.

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