CONCERNS remain over safety from the county's mental health provider after staff shortages meant a number of beds had to be cut and existing employees had to work extra hours.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust was awarded an overall 'Good' rating in a recent Care Quality Commission inspection - better than the 'Requires Improvement' it received in October 2015.

But the mental health provider was let down by recruitment difficulties, which have also led to an over reliance on agency staff.

The Trust, which runs a number of community hospitals across Oxfordshire and the Warneford Hospital, revealed it had tried open days, recruitment fairs and campaigns to encourage people with the right skills to fill their vacancies and promised to continue efforts to up staffing levels.

The CQC report saw the Trust score 'Good' in a number of sub-categories but it was still rated 'Requires Improvement' when it came to the safety of its services.

The report read: "All wards were staffed to achieve safe staffing levels; however this was achieved in some wards by staff working additional hours and shifts, the high use of temporary staff both from the trusts internal bank system and external agencies, and reducing beds on some wards."

Inspectors, who visited in June, were also concerned over medicine management and the lack of a money management policy sparked fears patients were at risk of losing cash.

Communications manager for the trust Charvy Narain, said: "The independent CQC report comments favourably on how we are actively seeking to fill vacancies through open days, recruitment fairs and campaigns to encourage people with the right skills to return to work.

"The report also noted that staffing levels have improved in recent months, and that procedures were in place to ensure safe staffing and improve recruitment and retention."

"Adequate staffing is an issue across the NHS, especially in the south-east of England, and we will continue to work to fill our vacancies."

But the trust has made significant improvements in three of its core services after being criticised in last year's inspection.

Potential ligature points were identified and managed, reducing the risk of suicide.

Services on acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units were improved, along with long stay and rehabilitation mental health wards and community-based mental health services.

Dr Paul Lelliott, deputy chief inspector of hospitals - and lead for mental health - said: "We found that generally the trust had taken action to identify and manage ligature points that could endanger people at risk of suicide. Patients and carers told us they felt highly involved.

"Although the trust were trying to mitigate the issue, staffing levels remain an area of concern and we still require improvement in safety."

Oxford Health's chief executive Stuart Bell said the improvements made was a "tremendous achievement" by its staff and thanked the adult mental health staff team for its contribution.