Enter and view: The Whiteleaf Centre Sapphire Ward

Healthwatch Bucks undertook an enter and view visit to Sapphire Ward at the Whiteleaf Centre on 16 April 2024. During the visit to the Sapphire Ward, they heard from two patients, five staff members and observed staff/patient engagement in communal areas. 

Key findings

There is no gym or provision for patients on the ward to engage in physical activity other than table tennis, pool and darts. Two patients told that they were bored. Another two patients were walking around the ward in a loop

 Some areas of the ward were cold and patients were wearing anoraks

 The furniture is colourful but the walls were bare apart from posters about services. All posters on display had information in one language - English

 Staff said that they felt part of a team now that there is less agency staff on shifts and a new Ward Manager is in place (in post for over a year)

Extra nursing staff (above required staff to patient ratios) are used during periods of higher levels of demand on the ward

 Occupation therapists (OTs) said that a fully equipped kitchen on the ward would be useful for weekly food preparation activities with patients

 Patients have a choice to have Oxevision – an infrared-sensitive camera, in their bedrooms. This allows staff to confirm a patient is safe and measure their pulse and breathing rate without disturbing their sleep. 

The report includes five recommendations and a response from the provider.