Enter and view: Beech Hill Intermediate Unit

Healthwatch Sheffield carried out an Enter and View visit to Beech Hill Intermediate Care Unit, a 31-bed NHS rehabilitation facility providing intermediate care for patients recovering from hospital stays, particularly following strokes, falls and orthopaedic surgery. Overall, the service was viewed very positively by patients, relatives and staff. Patients described the quality of care as excellent and praised the professionalism, kindness and knowledge of staff. Healthwatch found a strong rehabilitation focus, with multidisciplinary teams working alongside patients to set goals and support recovery, independence and discharge planning

A key strength of the unit was its person-centred approach to rehabilitation. Patients were involved in setting and reviewing goals, and a wide range of professionals, including therapists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and support workers, collaborated to support recovery. The unit also offered facilities designed to promote independence, including a therapy kitchen and gym. Patients particularly valued their spacious en-suite rooms, free televisions, personalised information boards and the communication provided by staff. Staff morale was high, with employees expressing pride in their work and strong commitment to patient care. h1

The environment was considered welcoming, comfortable and well suited to rehabilitation. Communal lounges, dining areas, activity rooms, gardens and volunteer-led activities helped reduce isolation and support wellbeing. Patients generally spoke positively about visiting arrangements, activities and facilities, although some raised concerns about food quality and the uncertainty surrounding discharge arrangements and support available after leaving the unit. Relatives also expressed a desire for clearer communication regarding post-discharge care options. 

Healthwatch concluded that Beech Hill delivered a high-quality rehabilitation service and identified several opportunities for enhancement, including providing more information about discharge support, improving communication about staff roles, increasing opportunities for informal socialising and introducing weekly planners to help patients understand their schedules. The service responded positively, confirming that many recommendations had already been implemented or were underway, including improved discharge information, enhanced patient information displays and continued collaboration with other intermediate care providers to share best practice.