Enter and view: Acute Medical Floor at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

This report is by Healthwatch Shrewsbury. It is based on an Enter and View of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Enter and View representatives visited the acute ward and spoke to 10 patients and 5 staff on the 29th August, 2023.

Findings included:

• The Acute Medical Floor is a busy area comprising AMA, AMU and Ward 22 Short Stay. 
• Patients can be assessed and start their treatment in the chair area. On the day of our visit this area was very quiet but we were told by Ward Managers and other staff that it can often be busy with patients waiting there over 24 hours sometimes due to a lack of beds in the hospital.
• There could be an issue with privacy in the seating area when it is busy and assessments need to be undertaken there. 
• Patients told us that they ‘couldn’t fault’ their care and treatment on the Acute Medical Floor and that ‘the staff are brilliant’. Feedback from all patients spoken to was positive.
• Staff and Ward Managers told us about the training staff have received including Enhanced Care training. 
• A shortage of beds across the hospital can lead to people staying on AMA and AMU longer than it is intended. This can cause issues for patients due to a limited access to showers on AMA and no provision for entertainment on AMA or AMU.

There are recommendations in this report.

• Feedback to all ward staff the high regard that patients feel for their work.
• Feedback to those responsible for the creation of the AMA/AMU that it has made a very positive improvement for patients.
• Address the bottleneck in moving patients though the AMU and help prevent blockages in the AMA. Providing improved pharmacy provision should be considered.
• Address the suitability of aspects of the AMA/AMU provision given its present usage patterns, particularly a lack of entertainment for patients.
• Consider if the AMA reception seating area layout could be improved to promote greater privacy.
• Improve reception and signage for those arriving via an external referral.

There are no follow up actions in this report. However there is a detailed provider response.