West Sussex

Concerns summary Insufficient Tier 4 Paediatric Mental Health beds lead to long waits, resulting in children with mental health needs being inappropriately held on acute paediatric wards unsuitable for their care.

Concerns summary The system for renewing diving licenses relies too heavily on self-declaration, failing to verify previous medical history or diving incidents, which risks diver safety.

Concerns summary Over-reliance on A&E for mental health crises due to inadequate dedicated placements creates an unsuitable and insecure environment, risking patient deterioration and abscondment.

Concerns summary Inadequate information sharing and a lack of a joined-up approach across health services for mental health patients with physical issues led to fragmented care. Over-reliance on remote appointments may fail vulnerable individuals.

Concerns summary A gap exists in safe spaces for mental health patients needing more support than home teams provide. National guidance is needed for proactively including family and GP input in care plans.

Concerns summary A national shortage and lack of regulation for British Sign Language interpreters, alongside procurement issues and few BSL-proficient clinicians, create significant risks for deaf mental health patients.

Concerns summary A community urology service lacked robust clinical governance, integration with NHS services, and proper appraisal of clinicians, leading to fragmented care and potential detriment to patient safety.

Concerns summary The day surgery patient assessment system lacks explicit requirements to question or record details about patients' haematological family history, or adequately document negative responses to related personal history questions.

Concerns summary Detained mental health patients can exploit mobile internet access to research self-harm methods, as staff lack effective technical means to monitor or control usage, despite revised policies.

Concerns summary Inadequate information sharing with GPs risks patients receiving either no medication or excessive, duplicative prescriptions, posing a significant safety concern.

Concerns summary A residential cul-de-sac lacks adequate barriers and standard height kerbing at its end, allowing vehicles to repeatedly enter an adjacent canal, posing a significant safety risk.

Concerns summary A severe shortage of British Sign Language interpreters is hindering urgent mental health crisis assessments and delaying judicial proceedings for deaf patients and witnesses.

Concerns summary Clinicians lack clear guidance on managing abnormal antenatal CTGs, specifically regarding decisions and timing of delivery, leading to inconsistent reliance on individual clinical judgment.

Concerns summary Inexperienced young drivers, recently passing their test, face increased accident risk when carrying young passengers, highlighting a concern about current regulations.

Concerns summary Insufficient funding prevents the provision of urgent mechanical thrombectomy services between 4 pm and 8 am at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Concerns summary A protracted and frustrating DVLA licence renewal process, characterized by communication failures, incorrect information, and lack of vulnerable customer support, significantly exacerbated the deceased's poor mental state and prevented employment.

Concerns summary Critical shortage of psychiatric beds leads to dangerously long waits in unsuitable A&E environments, exacerbating mental health for neurodiverse patients.

Concerns summary Deficient mental health assessments at military discharge, lack of inquiry into drug use linked to potential PTSD, and insufficient long-term rehabilitation options for veterans with substance abuse were identified.

Concerns summary Suicide prevention information is inadequately provided and often inaccessible for young people, with contact numbers unmonitored or unsuitable for those with disabilities, exacerbated by potential funding cuts.

Concerns summary Critical error messages and equipment defect indicators are not documented in user instructions or known to staff. Machine maintenance procedures also fail to identify component wear and tear.

Concerns summary A critical lack of information sharing and communication across agencies, compounded by emergency department triage delays, prevented accurate risk assessment and timely action for a vulnerable patient.

Concerns summary The mental health Trust lacked policy or guidance for assessing suicide risks posed by fixtures and fittings supplied to acute mental health patients.

Concerns summary Critical shortages of mental health inpatient beds, particularly for neurodiverse and transgender patients, led to dangerous A&E wait times and an unsuitable environment, alongside service gaps for high-risk individuals.

Concerns summary Severe national shortages of mental health beds, especially for autistic and transgender patients, led to dangerously long A&E waits, where the environment was unsuitable and exacerbated mental health conditions.

Concerns summary NHS Pathways' overdose categorization system fails to differentiate severity, leading to delayed responses. Ambulances also lack the necessary antidote for certain ingestions, causing critical treatment delays.