The trust's acute adult and psychiatric intensive care unit services were once again rated requires improvement following an unannounced inspection between 6 and 9 January 2025.

Chief executive officer, Chris Oliver, said: ‘It was great to hear some of the positive elements of the findings, including that patients and family members were generally positive about the service. They felt able to raise any concerns, with most patients saying they felt safe and that many of our colleagues were kind and supportive.'

Oliver also noted the CQC had highlighted colleagues knew how to recognise people at risk of or suffering harm, working with other agencies to protect them, and that they reported serious incidents clearly.

The chief executive said new protocols had been implemented on an inspected ward to improve discharge procedures including ‘ensuring physical health recording after the administration of rapid tranquilisation, blood clot risk assessments are taking place and clozapine monitoring is being completed'.

On staffing concerns, Oliver added: ‘The safe and effective care of our patients is of utmost importance to us, and we acknowledge how staffing levels, as raised in the CQC's report, does have an impact. We have been working hard to fill vacancies and address staffing shortfalls, which is a concern across the NHS and have seen an increase in people, including the recruitment of over 90 registered nurses throughout the past year within our inpatient wards and turnover is now the lowest on record. This does however remain an on-going area of focus for us.'

The trust is rated good overall by the CQC.