Enter and view: Westbourne House Nursing Home

Healthwatch Sheffield carried out an Enter and View visit to Westbourne House Nursing Home, a 71-bed service providing residential care, nursing care and specialist EMI nursing care for people living with dementia and related conditions. Overall, residents, relatives and staff expressed very high levels of satisfaction with the service. Healthwatch highlighted the warm, caring culture, strong clinical support and management team's commitment to delivering high-quality care despite challenges around funding and staffing within the wider care sector.

The home was found to be clean, well maintained and welcoming. Bedrooms were personalised to residents' preferences and corridors displayed photographs and montages celebrating residents and their activities. Outdoor areas included a front seating space and a rear garden. While residents already used these spaces, Healthwatch felt there was potential to further develop the gardens to provide greater stimulation, activity and engagement for residents. 

A particular strength was the home's approach to healthcare and end-of-life care. Residents benefited from close working relationships with local GPs, district nurses, dentists, podiatrists, therapists and opticians. Care plans were regularly reviewed, hydration and nutrition were closely monitored, and relatives praised staff for the effort they made to encourage food and fluid intake. Because many residents had advanced dementia or complex health needs, the home placed significant emphasis on end-of-life planning, pain management and advance care discussions. Staff received ongoing training from St Luke's Hospice, and Healthwatch observed examples of prompt, sensitive responses to residents' discomfort. 

Staffing stability and relationships within the home were also identified as major strengths. Many staff had worked at the home for years, with some remaining since the service opened 25 years earlier. Staff described enjoying their work, and residents repeatedly praised the kindness and support they received, using phrases such as "absolutely marvellous", "you get a lot of love" and "it's like a family". Healthwatch observed respectful, friendly interactions throughout the visit and found a strong focus on dignity, personal choice and individual routines. 

Activities were varied and well supported through a dedicated activities coordinator. Residents could participate in outings, church visits, dementia café sessions, entertainment events and one-to-one activities such as reading. Relatives reported that residents were happy, settled and actively involved in home life. Healthwatch concluded that Westbourne House provided high-quality, compassionate care supported by strong healthcare partnerships, long-serving staff and an ethos of respect and dignity. The main recommendation was to continue developing activities and make greater use of outdoor spaces.