Enter and view: Sapphire Ward, Little Brook Hospital

Healthwatch Kent undertook an enter and view visit to Sapphire Ward at Little Brook Hospital on 24 June and 8 July 2014.  They spoke to 16 people.

Both patients and staff commented that there are fewer visitors now that the ward has been relocated to Dartford. The time taken to travel from Medway, Swale or even further away in Kent, together with the difficulty of travelling by public transport to Dartford and then to Little Brook, and the costs incurred are the main reasons cited. This has caused anxiety and stress to many of the patients who were spoken to by the team. No-one was aware of the Transport Plan. 

Two patients reported that they had been admitted to another ward in Little Brook and then transferred to Sapphire ward just because they came from Medway. Both felt that this was distressing, having settled into the routine in one ward and then having to adjust to a different routine and environment. 

The lack of beds in some parts of Kent e.g. Canterbury, is causing issues for visitors and for patients in accessing services in their own area. Communication between caring services on discharge is more difficult and there may be a risk of people being discharged without support being in place at home. 

There are cost implications for accessing external care services e.g. in Medway. Several patients commented on being sent to groups or other services in taxis from Little Brook and not being able to share transport for safety reasons, therefore two taxis going to the same place at the same time with the attendant costs. 

Unfamiliarity with the Dartford area means that patients who are able to go out of the hospital are not confident to go further than the local shop. On the positive side, the grounds at Little Brook are a more pleasant environment to explore than the area around a large general hospital.

People were happy with the ward and with having their own room. There was high praise for the single rooms and the en suite facilities. They felt that it was always clean and did not smell. .They appreciated having access to the outside area, but felt that the area needed improvement, so that people could go outside to read etc. or just to talk to others. 

The food was rated highly by all respondents.

 The staff and the care provided were generally praised. 

The communal rooms did not seem to be an issue, apart from several people wanting access to music in their rooms, or in the lounge area. Only having one TV does create issues for some people, but was not mentioned as a big problem during the Enter and View.

The activities offered during the daytime and at weekends were criticised by most people. Some felt that the OT department should be more proactive in persuading people to join in the activities on offer. Others that there should be things to do in the evenings and weekends. Several people mentioned the lack of access to sports equipment.

Being on a mixed ward was not a significant issue for most people, although some of the younger patients did comment that it would be beneficial to have facilities for 18- 25 year olds. They felt that their needs were different to those of much older people. 

Staffing levels have meant that some patients on Section 17, for example, are not able to go out as often as they are entitled to do because there is no-one free to accompany them.