Enter and View: St Leonards Ward at Wallingford Community Hospital

Healthwatch Oxfordshire made an Enter and View visit to St Leonards Ward at Wallingford Community Hospital in November 2025. 

The ward, run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, provides care and treatment for rehabilitation for up to 16 patients and two palliative patients.

This visit was part of a programme of visits to a range of services within Oxfordshire. 

During this visit Healthwatch Oxfordshire spoke to 11 patients and 11 members of staff. 

Key findings

• Signage throughout the hospital, including from the car park to the ward, is clear and easy to follow.
• A wide range of patient‑facing information is displayed on the ward, covering clinical guidance, patient experience, safeguarding, complaints, wellbeing and interpreting services.
• The ward environment is clean, quiet, warm and attractively decorated with artwork, themed bay doors and a well‑designed day room.
• Facilities include a gym with specialist rehabilitation equipment, a courtyard garden, a family room and a visitor toilet.
• Patients reported feeling safe, well cared for and highly valued the compassion, professionalism and attentiveness of staff.
• Staff expressed that improved staffing levels and a better staff‑to‑patient ratio would enhance care quality and allow more suitable break patterns.
• Staff reported feeling well supported in their training and professional development, contributing to strong morale and job satisfaction.

Recommendations

In its report, Healthwatch Oxfordshire made the following recommendations to Oxford Health:

• Provide individual television screens in each bay so patients can watch comfortably without disturbing others or leaving their beds.
• Increase the range and variety of food options available to patients.
• Explore alternatives to plastic chart coverings to improve confidentiality and reduce noise.
• Offer additional training for staff caring for palliative patients to strengthen knowledge and quality of care.
• Consider reinstating two 15‑minute breaks instead of a single one‑hour break to better support staff during shifts.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire sent its report and recommendations to Oxford Health. The ward manager replied with a response to the suggested improvements.