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Mersey Care leadership blasted over 'toxic' culture

An independent review found a "pervasive culture of anxiety" across the organisation

[Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust runs mental health services across the region, including Ashworth High Secure Hospital]

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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust runs mental health services across the region, including Ashworth High Secure Hospital(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

The leadership of Mersey Care has been blasted over a "toxic culture" at the NHS trust. An independent review commissioned by NHS England found a "pervasive culture of anxiety" across the organisation, which provides mental and physical health services across much of the Liverpool City Region.

The report into leadership at the Trust, commissioned last year, found "adversarial and mistrustful" relationships had fostered "a divisive and toxic culture", and staff felt "fearful, anxious and unable to speak openly", the Health Service Journal reports.

Authors of the unpublished review said the relationship between Mersey Care Foundation Trust's board leaders was "widely regarded as dysfunctional, resulting in a pervasive culture of anxiety across the organisation".

They also warned a focus on internal politics was "seen to detract from patient care, operational performance, and staff wellbeing".

Mersey Care employs around 11,000 people and operates Ashworth High Secure Hospital in Maghull, Clock View Hospital in Walton, and the new Mossley Hill Hospital. It also provides learning disability and addiction services, and operates across Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Warrington, Halton, and West Lancashire.

Bosses at the trust said the review was an "important opportunity to reflect and identify where we can further improve."

[Clock View Hospital, Rice Lane, Walton]

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Clock View Hospital, Rice Lane, Walton(Image: Liverpool Echo)

The report was not made public, but a copy of a slide deck summarising its findings was obtained by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) under the Freedom of Information Act. The deck, dated November 2025, describes leadership transitions and board dynamics as "key sources of tension and instability, with relationships described as adversarial and mistrustful, fostering a divisive and toxic culture" at the mental health trust.

It added: "There is a clear lack of psychological safety among board and senior leaders, with staff feeling fearful, anxious and unable to speak openly."

NHS England said the slides were used to verbally update the trust board on the draft report findings in November 2025, but not shared directly with members.

The report found: "Recurring issues such as mistrust, lack of psychological safety, perceptions of favouritism and nepotism, governance deficiencies, and communication breakdowns have fostered a culture that is both unsustainable and detrimental to organisational performance."

The slides said the trust needed to "refresh board-level leadership with individuals who embody the right values and behaviours" and rebuild trust by "acknowledging harm".

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Trust said: Today, we have a cohesive board and executive team... Culture is never static, and we are committed to continually developing our leadership, governance and organisational culture to meet the evolving needs of our patients, communities, and staff."

The provider was rated "outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission for how well it was led in 2023 following more than a decade of stability under a previous leadership team.

But in 2025, trust chief executive Trish Bennett and chair Rosie Cooper, who stood down last year, requested NHS England's North West regional team commission an independent review into the senior leadership's culture.

Ms Cooper had already decided not to renew her second term by the time the slides were written. Mersey Care told HSJ last year that Ms Cooper, a former MP who had been chair since 2022, stepped down due to health reasons.

Three other non-executive directors have also left since the review. Mersey Care said the culture review was an "important opportunity to reflect and identify where we can further improve" and that it was pleased to welcome Sheena Cumiskey as chair this month.

The trust said it had "acted swiftly to strengthen board arrangements, enhance governance and decision-making and further embed the leadership behaviours and standards expected across the organisation". When asked for specific action, it mentioned a leadership development programme over the next 12 months, the HSJ reports.

Mersey Care said it had also created "further structured opportunities" for colleagues to share feedback and raise concerns.

Mersey Care's statement in full

"We are committed to learning, openness and continuous improvement and welcomed the independent leadership and culture review undertaken last year as an important opportunity to reflect and identify where we can further improve.

"The review highlighted several areas to build on, and the Trust acted swiftly to strengthen Board arrangements, enhance governance and decision-making and further embed the leadership behaviours and standards expected across the organisation. We have also created further structured opportunities for colleagues to share feedback, raise concerns and help shape how we continue to improve.

"Our senior leadership team is consistently engaging with staff through visible leadership, listening events, staff forums and open dialogue. This feedback is directly informing our improvement programme, with a continued focus on ensuring colleagues feel safe to speak up, know they are listened to and are treated with dignity and respect.

"The Trust is also pleased to welcome Sheena Cumisky MBE, who took up the role of Chair in July 2026, and looks forward to her contribution to the Trust's continued development.

"Today, we have a cohesive Board and Executive team with a shared ambition for the future of Mersey Care. Culture is never static and we are committed to continually developing our leadership, governance and organisational culture to meet the evolving needs of our patients, communities and staff. Our focus remains on maintaining the highest standards of care, supporting our people and building an organisation that continues to learn, improve and deliver outstanding services."

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