Enter and view: Aintree University Hospital

Healthwatch Liverpool carried out an Enter and View visit to Aintree University Hospital in February 2015, focusing on Ward 16 (Orthopaedics) and the Ventilation Inpatient Centre. Overall, the visit found a clean, well-organised environment and positive experiences from patients. Healthwatch observed good infection control practices, clear information displays and staff who interacted with patients in a friendly and respectful manner. Patients consistently reported feeling safe, involved in decisions about their care and satisfied with the treatment they received. 

Patients on both wards praised the quality of care, responsiveness of staff and cleanliness of the environment. Orthopaedic patients particularly valued the support they received with discharge planning, rehabilitation and access to equipment for use at home. Patients in the Ventilation Inpatient Centre also spoke positively about staff support and specialist care, describing staff as caring, attentive and professional. 

Healthwatch identified a small number of areas for improvement. The day rooms on both wards were considered relatively small and offered limited facilities for patients and visitors. Staffing pressures were also noted, particularly within the Ventilation Inpatient Centre, where vacancies and maternity leave were affecting workforce capacity. Healthwatch also questioned whether sufficient workspace was available for staff completing administrative tasks. 

Overall, Healthwatch concluded that Aintree University Hospital was providing a good standard of care and identified no concerns about patient safety or service quality. Recommendations focused on improving day room facilities and continuing to monitor staffing levels, particularly within specialist inpatient services. The Trust subsequently confirmed that action had already been taken regarding some of the issues identified, including updating ward information displays and addressing staffing vacancies.