Enter and view: Walstead Place

Healthwatch West Sussex’s team of authorised representatives made an announced Enter and View visit to Walstead Place, a nursing home with some 54 residents providing personal care, diagnostic and screening services to adults over 65 years, on 10th March 2015. Its Specialist Care Categories include Hearing Impairment, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke and Visual Impairment.

This project was initially planned as a responsive visit to feedback which Healthwatch West Sussex had received about alleged deficiencies in care at the home. The intention was to get an overall sense by asking open questions on dignity issues from residents, relatives and staff where available.

The questionnaire used by the team expands the enquiry into general issues of dignity. These include prompts on choice & control, communication and pain management, personal hygiene, privacy and social inclusion.

All residents had an individual care plan which was reviewed on regular basis. They seemed happy with the food and menu and enjoyed their activities such as music session in the afternoons. Overall residents felt that staff were respectful and listened to them, however a few residents with hearing difficulties felt lonely at times.

Pain management was supervised by the GP and given by the care home staff. The team felt the staff could do with more training in this area. Hygiene and cleanliness were of good standard and the residents’ privacy was respected. They enjoyed their activities and Healthwatch found the residents to be happy with the activities on offer and given enough contact with family and friends. The report explains the policies, procedures and training received by staff. The Healthwatch team made a few recommendations.

Response from the provider explains the actions they hope to take to improve the service in line to the recommendations made.