Enter and view: West Mendip Hospital, Glastonbury

Healthwatch Somerset carried out an enter and view visit to West Mendip Hospital in Glastonbury on 27 April 2023 to understand patients’ experiences of rehabilitation and ongoing care. During the visit, Healthwatch spoke with 11 patients, two visiting family members, senior ward staff and a member of the therapy team. The hospital provides 36 beds for patients requiring rehabilitation, ongoing assessment or end-of-life care.

The visit found a calm, welcoming and well-organised environment. Staff were observed treating patients with kindness and respect, and Healthwatch noted positive interactions between staff and patients. Patients benefited from access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and discharge support, with a strong focus on helping people regain confidence, mobility and independence so they could return home. 

Patients spoke positively about the quality of care, food and support they received. Many felt the community hospital environment was more relaxed than an acute hospital and appreciated the time staff spent with them. Healthwatch highlighted good practice including personalised “about me” boards for each patient, an activities programme and a “get up and get dressed” approach that encouraged independence. 

Healthwatch concluded that West Mendip Hospital provided compassionate and effective care in a positive environment. The main area for improvement was ensuring patients and their families had a better understanding of discharge planning and the progress being made towards returning home, as several patients were unclear about their discharge arrangements and how their transfer from acute hospital care had been managed.