CARE inspectors have called for improvements at a North-East mental health hospital.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission visited the Auckland Park Hospital in Westfield Road, Bishop Auckland on August 14.

The hospital is run by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and provides specialist mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services for adults over 65, people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act and people with dementia.

The inspection team found improvements were required in two out of five core standards.

These included treating people with respect and involving them in their care and the standard of management..

During a routine inspection the team found that the service provider "had not protected people against the risk of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment as they had not maintained an accurate record in respect of the care and treatment provided to each person."

Concerns were also raised about practices which restricted the independence and free movements of patients on the wards.

The inspection team did not find any record of why these practices were required.

The inspectors "found the staff could provide a great deal of detail about peoples specific care needs but this was not written down."

A spokesperson for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Auckland Park consistently receives positive feedback from patients and families, which is reflected in the comments made to the CQC inspectors.

"We were disappointed that their report highlighted two areas where we need to make some improvements but we have already taken action to address these issues."