Enter and view: Murdoch House

Healthwatch Wokingham Borough’s team of authorised representatives conducted an unannounced Enter and View visit to Murdoch House on 23rd November 2015.

The environment in the home was clean, cosy and nicely presented. The team observed Murdoch House to provide a good quality of care to its residents. Residents were able to exercise choice around attending various events. Nutrition was well maintained with direct support given to those with eating and drinking difficulties.

Being part of the Four Seasons Group was of benefit for the home as they provided a structure and support for running the home, which allowed the manager and her team to get on with running the day to day responsibilities in the home.

The team reported that there was plenty of opportunity for staff, residents and visitors to provide feedback on any aspect of care or the service received. All staff are employed by Four Seasons and no outside agencies are used. The Activity Coordinator arranges for several group social activities such as visiting jazz singer, hairdresser, bingo, gardening and shopping trips.

The team observed a good relationship between the staff, who provided good care, and residents who respected the staff.

Healthwatch made two recommendations; for Four Seasons to consider upgrading more of the en suites to include showering facilities, and for The Rose Street Pharmacy, Wokingham Medical Centre and Murdoch House, as an integrated team, to examine the working practices in managing repeat medicines and supply and administrations.

Murdoch House thanked the team for their visit and made a few factual corrections to the report.