Going is good for Rochdale mental health patients

The Government has given good marks to Rochdale's mental health services.

The Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, which covers Rochdale, has been ranked 23rd out of 69 in the country in a report Healthcare Commission and the town's mental health services have been rated 'good'.

Ratings for each trust that provides acute in-patient mental health services ranged from excellent to good, fair or weak.

Pennine Care scoring particularly well in providing care that promotes inclusion and in developing activity programmes for patients.

John Archer, chief executive, welcomed the news and said: “I am pleased that the Healthcare Commission has recognised the high quality service that we provide.

“Pennine Care has 462 beds for acutely ill people, and we always strive to give our patients the highest possible standard of care.”

Joint top were Dudley Primary Care Trust and Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Wolverhampton came bottom.

Mr Archer, who paid tribute to all staff, said: “One of my biggest goals in leading the trust is to make Pennine care a great place to work.

“This year we’ve worked hard to reduce violence against staff on wards with our THINK personal safety campaign, and in giving effective training and development to allow staff to help patients more.

“I am delighted that this report has recognised our improvements, because in the end it’s the patients who are benefiting.”

Mr Archer also highlighted work being carried out to improve links between wards and community care, and to develop new wards.

Anna Walker, the Healthcare Commission’s chief executive, said: “It is clear that it is possible to provide patients with excellent care and that some organisations are doing exactly that. It is also clear that these can be tough places to work and I pay tribute to staff who face this.”