Closure of private hospital service ‘necessary’ to protect children’s safety, watchdog finds

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Following a series of joint investigations by The Independent and Sky News exposing allegations of “systemic abuse” within children’s mental health hospitals formerly run by The Huntercombe Group, the Care Quality Commission launched a review of the leaders at the current owners, Active Care Group. The CQC said the organisation faced “significant challenges” with its two children’s mental health hospitals - Taplow Manor and Ivesty Bank Hospital. “It was recognised that the provision of these services was not sustainable in the long term and so work was taking place with commissioners to identify alternative services for the young people who had very complex needs.” Active Care Group closed children’s services at Taplow Manor hospital in Maidenhead, after the NHS paused admissions, following exposes by The Independent and Sky News. In a list of actions for the organisation, the CQC said following the challenges it’s had in children’s services it must review plans and “clearly articulate which groups of services users they are planning to support in the future.” The watchdog’s comment come after ACG has opened Taplow Manor hospital for adults only after closing the children’s service.