A TROUBLED mental health unit in Redditch plagued by safety concerns is set to close for good.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health Care Trust has confirmed that the Hill Crest unit, based at the Alexandra Hospital, will close, with the organisation planning to run two main mental health inpatient campuses in Hereford and Worcester.

The trust has said the building "cannot be adapted to meet the latest standards for acute mental health inpatient care," with the service set to move next year. 

Failings at Hill Crest were revealed in a report published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2023, which stated that areas of the ward were dirty, electrical wires were exposed, people’s bedrooms had no wardrobes and "sexual safety incidents" had occurred.

The CQC visited the mixed-gender mental health unit in July 2022 after concerns regarding people’s safety. Hill Crest was rated as inadequate following the inspection.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust said that immediately following the inspection they addressed the "urgent issues which were identified during the visit".

They said they recognised the "standards of care and professionalism" were "not good enough" at the time of the inspection.

In July 2022, some patients were temporarily moved from the unit after a fire broke out in a bathroom.

In February 2023, the Advertiser reported former Hill Crest patients describing their experience as "traumatic" and "frightening" and said the unit should be closed down.

The patients, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed the ward was "disgusting" and "filthy" and some staff "had no empathy towards patients."

The ward was temporarily closed to new admissions and the number of beds was reduced from 18 to 10 to improve the quality of care following the inspection.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust said: “The staff and management team at Hill Crest have worked incredibly hard to improve the standards of care and the ward environment over the past 18 months.

"We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and are confident that patients are able to receive good care at Hill Crest.

"We have recognised that the building itself, however, cannot be adapted to meet the latest standards for acute mental health inpatient care including ensuite bedrooms and good lines of sight throughout the ward. 

“Our aim as an organisation is to run two main mental health inpatient campuses – one in Hereford and one in Worcester with wards and teams located together on single sites providing strong immediate support for our services".

The trust said they have completed several engagement and listening events with staff and the public, a presentation and oversight at HOSC, and followed NHSE processes.

A report seeking ratification of the decision to move the service was presented to the trust board in July.

The decision to move has now been confirmed with the trust stating that the move will happen by April 2025.