NHS mental health boss ‘shocked’ ward managers not on seven days a week

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. Read our privacy policy The NHS’ mental health director has warned trusts they should have ward managers working seven days a week amid national safety concerns. Claire Murdoch, national director for mental health at NHS England, said she was “shocked” to hear in some NHS trusts ward managers were not working and overseeing the quality and safety of wards seven days a week, warning some were “Monday to Friday” people. Her comments came in response to questions from The Independent about a potential national review of safety within inpatient mental health services which ministers are considering, following several high-profile scandals in recent months. Speaking at NHS Providers’ annual conference she said mental health providers should make sure they’re listening to healthcare assistants who spend “90 per cent of their time in patient-facing situations” And added “making sure your ward managers do work overnight and over the weekend, I’ve been a bit shocked to hear that we’ve moved with Agenda for Change quite often ward managers are Monday to Friday people.and no no no no no.