Major NHS-Funded Mental Health Facility Under Multiple Police Investigations
A prominent mental health hospital that receives substantial NHS funding is currently the subject of several police investigations following the death of a patient and serious allegations of staff misconduct. St Andrew's Hospital in Northampton, which operates as a registered charity providing specialist mental health services, has found itself at the centre of multiple probes by Northamptonshire Police.
Ongoing Criminal Investigations Into Patient Care
Police are actively investigating the death of an elderly man at the 400-bed facility, with five individuals initially arrested on suspicion of corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter. While four of those arrested have been released without further action, one person remains on bail for alleged wilful neglect by a care worker. This investigation follows a separate corporate manslaughter inquiry into the death of a teenage girl at the hospital in October 2024, though the Crown Prosecution Service has since decided no further action will be taken in that case.
In a parallel investigation, eight care workers have been arrested on suspicion of wilful neglect and ill treatment following allegations of assault made by a patient in July 2025. All eight individuals remain on bail as this complex investigation continues. Northamptonshire Police have confirmed that detectives from CID and the major crime team are involved in examining incidents alleged to have occurred at the hospital.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Critical Inspection Findings
The hospital has faced significant regulatory scrutiny, with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating it "inadequate" following inspections. The watchdog's report, published in December, revealed disturbing findings including seven allegations of assault by staff on patients between July and August 2025, along with claims of intimidation and bullying. Two patients told inspectors they would "prefer prison" to being treated at the facility.
The CQC identified evidence of what it described as "a hospital-wide closed culture resulting in improper and abusive treatment of people and patients." As a result, the regulator issued an enforcement notice restricting new admissions across the entire location. This action followed a review of CCTV footage during an inspection that appeared to show staff assaulting patients.
Historical Concerns and Previous Safeguarding Issues
This is not the first time St Andrew's Healthcare has faced serious criticism. In May 2024, a coroner criticised the hospital over the suicide of 16-year-old Grace Smith in 2022, ruling that staff had failed to properly consider her suicide risk when reducing observation checks. The organisation previously closed children's wards at the site in 2020 following a series of safety concerns and critical CQC reports.
Before this, in 2019, the charity faced a high-profile scandal when it was revealed that a 17-year-old with autism had been kept locked in a room alone for nearly two years. These historical issues compound current concerns about patient safety and care standards at the facility.
Financial Context and NHS Relationship
St Andrew's Healthcare operates as a registered charity providing inpatient mental health services across four hospitals in Northampton, Birmingham, and Essex. The organisation received £206 million from NHS contracts in the 2023-24 financial year, making it one of the NHS's major providers of adult mental health beds. The Northampton facility alone received at least £3.6 million from the NHS for patients who could not be treated locally, with an average cost per bed of £685 per day.
The hospital provides specialist services including beds for deaf patients with mental health needs, highlighting its role in treating complex cases that may not be adequately served elsewhere in the system.
Organisational Response and Improvement Efforts
A spokesperson for St Andrew's Healthcare stated: "Patient safety is our highest priority at St Andrew's Healthcare, and we have an urgent action plan to strengthen the quality of care we provide. As a charity, we are committed to full transparency and take a zero-tolerance approach to any allegation of harm or poor practice."
The organisation emphasised that it immediately reported cases to police, informed the CQC, and launched internal investigations. They noted that police concluded no further action was required in one case, while other investigations remain ongoing.
NHS England in the Midlands confirmed it is "working closely with the Care Quality Commission and Northamptonshire Police to address the unacceptable standards of care at St Andrew's Healthcare and take appropriate enforcement action." An intensive improvement programme is reportedly underway, including reviewing the care of every patient, monitoring staffing levels, and conducting regular site checks.
The Department for Health and Social Care has expressed support for the actions being taken by NHS England and the CQC to address the serious concerns raised about care standards at this major mental health facility.
