NHS bosses have suspended an undisclosed number of staff in Essex in response to concerns raised in a team treating people with learning disabilities.

Tom Potter

NHS bosses have suspended an undisclosed number of staff in Essex in response to concerns raised in a team treating people with learning disabilities.

NHS North East Essex announced the suspension of “a number of staff” and said the action followed “issues” raised by fellow employees.

But the trust would not disclose how many staff are involved or the reasons behind the suspensions.

Managers said that a review of quality standards used by the team concerned is under way.

A South Essex authority has been asked to manage the service while the review is carried out.

A trust spokesman said the inquiry centred on the treatment given to adult patients in a residential care home at an address in the county but he refused to disclose the location.

NHS North East Essex serves around 315,000 residents of Colchester and Tendring in the 255 square miles covered by Colchester Borough Council and Tendring District Council.

Alan Mack, director of corporate development and governance at the trust, said: “Following issues raised by staff within the learning disabilities team a number of staff have been suspended.

“We have commissioned Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation NHS Trust to undertake a quality review of the in-patient learning disability services provided by the provider arm of NHS North East Essex.

“Whilst this review is being carried out, we have asked South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust to manage our in-patient learning disabilities service to ensure we maintain high standards of patient care.

“We do not wish to make further comment until the review has been concluded.”