North London NHS Foundation Trust 'requires improvement' says CQC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the inspection partly in response to patient deaths in the recent past.
It noted that between April 2022 and March 2024, there had been eight deaths in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust. There had been a further five deaths in Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust. In the six months between September 2024 and February 2025, there had been four deaths within the acute and psychiatric intensive care units (PICU) wards.
The two trusts merged in 2024.
The CQC report, published in July 2025, details a comprehensive assessment of all mental health wards for adults of working age and PICU in North London NHS Foundation Trust.
The CQC inspected 20 wards across four sites between 10 February and 4 March 2025. The wards were at Chase Farm Hospital, St Ann’s Hospital, Edgware Community Hospital and Highgate West Mental Health Centre.
The trust has been rated 'requires improvement' overall. Under the safe, effective and well-led inspection categories, the mental health sites have all been rated ‘requires improvement’. The CQC found 13 breaches of the regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, person centred care, staffing and governance.
The CQC gave examples across the trust where patients had been administered medicines that had not been in line with the Mental Health Act consent to treatment authorisations. Team meetings were not always happening each month.
The trust was rated ‘good’ under the caring and responsive categories.
The CQC has asked the trust for an action plan in response to the concerns found at the assessment.
We’ve told the trust where improvements are needed, and leaders have begun work on an action plan to address our concerns. We’ll continue to monitor these services closely, including through further inspections, to ensure these improvements are made quickly and people receive safe care while this happens.
"Not enough staff"
The CQC spoke with 56 patients across the trust. Most patients said staff were kind and approachable. However, 11 patients were unhappy with the way staff treated them.
Eighteen of the 56 patients, and some of the staff, felt there were not enough staff, particularly at the weekend. Patients said this impacted on their needs being met. Patients said their escorted leave was often delayed, and they had to wait a long time for their requests to be met, such as a drink or the laundry room to be opened.
Healhwatch Haringey will be taking steps to monitor the situation and will be working closely with our partners at the North London NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that relevant actions are being adhered to.
