Enter and view: Suffolk Ward Chase Farm Hospital

Healthwatch Enfield gather information on people’s experiences of health and social care services and there are times when it is appropriate for Healthwatch Enfield to see and hear for themselves how services are being delivered: these visits are called ‘Enter and View’, they are not inspections.

Healthwatch Enfield visited Suffolk Ward Chase Farm Hospital on 17/03/2015.

The summary of findings highlighted areas in relation to patient feedback, staff feedback and observation. Suffolk Ward appears to be well-managed, and training and supervision for staff seems to be of a high standard. We met the deputy manager who impressed us as being confident, competent and empathetic. Healthwatch Enfield found that accommodation and facilities in Suffolk Ward are generally good. There is a good choice of activities on offer (although not at weekends or in the evening), and patients told us that they enjoy the food provided. Patients’ physical health appears to be well-looked after, and patients spoke highly of the group therapy sessions, but there was no access to one-to-one talking therapies. Patients told Healthwatch Enfield that they were not always able to exercise choice, for example in terms of going outside, or having snacks outside mealtimes, as there were not always enough staff available to escort or assist them. The ward became noisy at times during our visit, creating an uncomfortable and unsettled atmosphere. Healthwatch Enfield witnessed some patients behaving in a disturbed manner and saw that staff did not always intervene effectively to restore a calm environment where all patients could feel safe and well-cared for. Healthwatch Enfield heard that some patients and relatives did not feel their concerns were listened to. From the observations we made during our visit and the comments we heard from patients, relatives and staff, we gained the strong impression that staff of Suffolk Ward are overstretched, which reduces their capacity to maintain a peaceful and healing environment and to provide person-centred care to all patients.

There were 15 recommendations in this report which includes a action plan from Suffolk Ward.