Enter and View: Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Ward 23 – Oncology and Haematology

Healthwatch Shropshire undertook an Enter and View visit to Ward 23 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on 17 October 2019.  They spoke to 4 staff, 6 patients and 4 visitors.

Findings

• Comments from patients and visitors who we spoke to were unanimous, and highly positive, about all aspects of their experience on Ward 23.
• All patients and visitors Healthwatch spoke to felt comfortable, able to relax, confident in staff ability, supported, listened to and understood and felt that staff communicated well. Comments about patient discharge were also positive. Everything Healthwatch saw and felt on the visit echoes this view.
• Healthwatch were told about a strong team ethos on the Ward. This was supported by what Healthwatch observed and heard.
• Staff said that patients, especially those receiving longer-term treatments, would welcome an outside space. One patient also told us they missed going outside.
• Patients would like more variety in the menu and more personal space/facilities.
• The day room, a bathroom and the Ward were used for storage.
• A toilet door is noisy when closing

Recommendations

• The excellence of the Ward’s care should be celebrated.
• The hospital should consider how to enhance the experience of longer-term patients.
• The hospital should seek alternative equipment storage solutions
• The hospital should mend the toilet door so that it closes quietly.