Enter and view: Wilbury Care Home

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove carried out an Enter and View visit to Wilbury Care Home in March 2016 to examine residents’ access to primary healthcare services. Overall, residents and relatives were positive about the quality of care provided and reported good access to GP, dental, optical and other healthcare services. Staff described constructive relationships with local GP practices and district nursing teams, and residents generally felt their health needs were being addressed appropriately. 

GP care was reported to be responsive and available when needed, with medication reviews and blood tests carried out as appropriate. The home was registered with a visiting dental service that provided regular check-ups, although some residents chose not to attend. Residents largely managed their own oral hygiene with prompts from staff where needed, and no significant concerns were raised about dental care or equipment. 

The home also supported residents to access eye care, hearing care and other specialist services. Annual sight tests were available within the home, while hearing tests were arranged when a need was identified. Staff reported access to aids such as magnifiers, talking books and large-print materials, and residents had access to mobility equipment including walking aids and wheelchairs. Relatives and residents were generally satisfied with arrangements for podiatry, diabetes monitoring and other routine healthcare needs. 

Healthwatch concluded that Wilbury Care Home had a thoughtful and generally effective approach to primary healthcare support. Recommendations focused on strengthening hearing care through additional training and hearing-test provision, improving communication with relatives about healthcare responsibilities, and considering the use of electronic prescriptions. The provider responded positively and outlined actions including joining the electronic prescription service and further staff training relating to hearing support.