Themes and Issues Highlighted by Patients at the Hartington Unit Chesterfield Royal Hospital

 

Actions Taken by DMHST

The Recreation team is going through the recruitment process at present as two staff have left the service to progress their professional development. The Occupational Therapy team are supporting The Hub to remain open. The wards are also working hard to find new ways of releasing time to care and offer more activities to patients who remain on the wards. Tansley ward has evening protected time for activities and invites patients from Pleasley and Morton wards. Morton has protected time on a Thursday evening and Pleasley provide the same time over a weekend. All wards are invited to access these activity times.                                   

 

Medication

1 Medication side effects not explained in depth and detail to patients.

2 Staff not fully understanding the reasons behind patients not wanting to take medication.

 

Actions Taken by DMHST

Every patient has a consultant and nursing team who will explain medication and potential side effects. We also have a pharmacist on site and regular multi disciplinary meetings where individual care is provided

 

Clinical Care

1 Some members of the staffing team going that extra mile for patients.

2 Doctors on annual leave meaning patients cannot be discharged.

3 Patients felt that if they did not feel ready to be discharged, they would be if the doctors felt they were ready. On discharge          patients could not cope and ended back on the unit.

4 Contradictions between different wards with regards to wheat packs.

5 Staff taking vast amounts of notes and not really interacting with patients whilst doing so.

6 Patients wanting to spend more one to one time with named nurse.

7 Service users were satisfied with the treatment received whilst at the Hartington Unit.

8 Some service receivers felt that they had not been given enough information on admission about what they could expect.

 

Actions Taken by DMHST

2 Matron has forwarded this comment to the Doctors. Everyone receiving care has a multi disciplinary team who works with them towards their discharge from the point of admission. Decisions will involve the individual, their families, carers where appropriate. Crisis and O.T will support discharge when required.

4 In response to this issue after discussions with the lead infection control for the trust and acting matron at the Hartington unit. The reason staff have reacted in this way is due to infection control issues, health and safety risks, food hygiene standards and fire safety issues. From this issue the matrons will be undertaking a piece of work that will provide a rationale and concise message to staff on this issue. A uniformed position statement around wheat packs will be included In patient information packs shortly and will be briefed out to ward managers and all staff.

 

Occupational Therapy – Gym

1 Patients felt that not enough time or effort was given to patients who wanted to do exercise.

2 Patients deciding what activities should be made available for patients rather than the staff.

3 Times of the day that OT activities were available which suit staff rather than patients.

 

Actions Taken by DMHST

The gym is on site and open 5 days a week. To access this part of the service an O.T referral is required and the individual will be given a thorough physical assessment and a gym programme will be written. The gym is therapeutic rather than recreational which is why referrals are necessary. There is also a weekly walking and swimming group. In addition an individual will be supported through their therapeutic O.T programme to pursue their recovery. All OT is subject to staffing levels.

 

Nutrition

1 Good variety of confectionary on offer within the Hub Cafe.

2 Mostly the variety of foods on offer is good and nutritious.

3 Food is good on occasions and poor on others. The need for consistency.

4 Service users felt that they would prefer to have more fruits available within the Hub Café.

 

Actions taken by DMHST

We invite patients to complete comments cards with feedback about the service they receive.

If individuals have dietary requirements they should inform ward staff who will ensure their requirements are met.

 

Social

5 Service users felt that they had been given good support services on discharge for example help with benefits etc.

 

Actions taken by DMHST

1 When a patient is admitted they are allocated a named nurse. Such issues can be discussed and arrangements made. If the patient has a care co-ordinator arrangements can also be made. WRAP plans are available on the unit which enable the patient to state and plan during admission.

2 Citizens Advise is available to discuss finances including benefits.

3 Patients are able to seek support from Hartington staff and their care co-ordinator. The complaints process (PALS) is also available.

4 The Early Intervention Service is commissioned to provide a service to anyone who appears to be experiencing a first episode of psychosis between the ages of 14 - 35 years. Treatment interventions are in accordance with NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence). These include Psychosocial Interventions, Educational and Vocational support, Family Work, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Medication, Group work and Crisis response.

 

Environment

1 Location of public phone in Hub Café gave patients privacy.

2 The Hub Cafe was bright and cheerful.

 

Complaints

1 Staff treating those patients less favourably who identify issues compared to those who act in a docile manner.

2 Those patients that complained about staff felt threatened by those particular staff.

 

Actions taken by DMHST

1 All patients receive a multi disciplinary approach to care from qualified senior staff.

In the event of any concerns or complaints regarding clinical care there is a complaints procedure which patient’s will be supported to use. PAL’s are available to deal with complaints and visit the unit regularly.

2 There are also regular patient meetings on the wards to discuss concerns. There are selections of managers available on the unit for patients to discuss their concerns.