A WOMEN’s mental health hospital has been rated outstanding after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

Arbury Court in Winwick has received a glowing report from the CQC following a comprehensive inspection that took place in December.

Run by Partnerships in Care, the Townfield Lane hospital is registered to provide residential care to 74 women with mental illnesses or personality disorder.

Its two medium-secure wards and four low-secure wards were visited a panel of nine experts between December 14-16.

They collected feedback from staff, patients and relatives and also highlighted the results of a patient satisfaction survey that said 89 per cent believed their care was good, very good or excellent.

The report said: “The majority of patients and carers we spoke with were positive about staff and felt they treated them with respect and kindness – interaction between staff and patients were friendly and respectful.

“We observed interactions between staff and patients that were friendly and respectful – the majority of patients we spoke with were positive about staff and felt they treated them with respect and kindness.

“The service had implemented a positive behavioural support programme – this was a philosophy of care that focussed on patients’ positive behaviours, strengths and recovery.

“The provider used a staff satisfaction tool that showed staff at Arbury Court were generally positive about the service – this was reflected in our conversations with staff.”

The report also highlighted the use of ‘pet therapy’ in the hospital, with a resident guinea pigs, rabbits and a dog.

A high-level of incidents was noted but the report said they were acted upon by the hospital and company.