A SECOND mental health institution in Oxford has failed an inspection, raising questions about provider Oxford Health.

Littlemore Mental Health Centre failed two of the 16 essential standards following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors discovered fixtures and items that could be used to cause harm and it that records were not always kept, meaning patients could receive unsafe care.

The hospital in Sandford Road, Littlemore, provides services to help people with mental health, learning disabilities and substance misuse.

It follows a CQC report into the Warneford Hospital, in Headington, which found points that patients could hang themselves from and glass mirrors that could have been used for self-harm in bathrooms.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “It is vital that the shortcomings found in this unannounced inspection are put right.

“Lessons really should have been learnt from the previous report on the Warneford, which uncovered similar risks.

“It is good, though, that the hospital met the standard on protecting service users from abuse.

“I will hold a meeting with the trust to talk about their overall progress, as well as the urgent action I hope they will be taking on the safety concerns the CQC has raised.”

The failings were found by the CQC during a routine inspection of the hospital on April 26.

The results were made public yesterday. An Oxford Health spokesman said: “While we are pleased with the overall findings of this report, patient safety is always of utmost concern and, as such, we welcome the CQC highlighting areas where improvements could be made.

“An action plan has been agreed with the CQC to attend to the two areas of concern.” She said the unsecured refuse area had been made safe. Littlemore's three low secure wards can accommodate 31 men and 31 women and its two medium secure wards can house 32 men.

Hospital absconder jailed for stabbing woman

A MAN who has fled from Littlemore Hospital was jailed for life in 2004 for a frenzied knife attack that left a former lover with too many wounds for doctors to count. Ian McLean, 44, pictured, was last seen at the facility at about 10pm on Monday and police have warned the public not to approach him. The Oxford Mail can reveal it is the same Ian McLean who was given a life sentence in 2004 for attacking his former partner of 10 years. Oxford Crown Court was told he had attacked Michelle Storer while she slept. She was stabbed so many times that doctors could not count the number of wounds she received. McLean, then of Balmoral Avenue in Banbury, was due to stand trial for attempted murder but was allowed to admit a lesser charge of wounding with intent.

Nigel Daly, defending, said his client, who had previously been jailed for attacking a man with a razor, had an “extreme personality disorder”. McLean, who is white, slim, about 5ft 8ins tall and is heavily tattooed, including a skull and crossbones on the right side of his neck and a swallow on the right side of his face, was told he would be eligible for parole within four years at his 2004 sentencing.

It was not known yesterday when he had been released from prison.

A police spokeswoman said it was believed McLean was no longer in the UK. She added it was thought that he was in mainland Europe.

Oxford Health said it was investigating how he managed to go “missing”.