Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust
Report published: 18 May 2005
We conducted an investigation into a drug dependency inpatient unit run by Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust. This was triggered by serious concerns regarding a number of errors in the administration of controlled drugs, such as methadone.
We found that the unit was innovative and staffed by motivated clinicians, who were well supported by their line managers.
However, we called for significant and urgent improvements to the unit's management and administration of controlled drugs. The unit relied on an out-of-date policy for handling drugs. There were discrepancies between the quantity of methadone recorded as being on the ward and the actual amounts. Record books were often incomplete and illegible, and the unit operated with low staffing levels and a high use of bank and agency staff.
More information
Further information on the investigation is available in the publications listed below:
