A HOSPITAL is under investigation after three psychiatric patients choked to death in six months.

Staff at Prospect Park Hospital are believed to have given unsuitable food to patients with soft food only diets.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said detailed records of patient meals needed to be recorded.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has launched the investigation, but refused to comment further.

The Bluebell Ward at Prospect Park Hospital received an unannounced focused inspection in May after concerns were raised about the service.

The CQC previously slammed the hospital for ignoring vulnerable patients and served three requirement notices.

The report said: "There were concerns about dignity and respect in some areas, for instance on Bluebell Ward and Daisy Ward the en-suite privacy curtains in the double bedroom areas did not provide adequate privacy or dignity when using the shower and toilet facilities.

"On the wards for people with a learning disability not all staff were able to adequately communicate with people using appropriate means of communication. We observed some staff ignoring a patient's request for attention.

"Bluebell ward had the highest use of rapid tranquillisation with 17 incidents of its use.

"On the high dependency unit at Prospect Park which is part of the acute inpatient wards for adults, we found that the unit did not afford those subject to long term segregation their rights, as defined by the Mental Health Act 1983."