Enter and View: Apthorp Care Centre

Healthwatch Barnet conducted an announced Enter and View visit to Apthorp Care Centre on 18th February 2016, as part of a planned strategy to look at a range of care and nursing homes within the area.

The centre, which is managed by the Freemantle Trust, provides care for the frail elderly, including those with dementia and learning disabilities.

A general description of the building layout & design is provided by the team. The decor is described as "cheerful" and the team praised it's high level of cleanliness; high standards of food; happy and well-dressed residents that enjoyed several activities such as games, books, jigsaws, gardening and singing in ‘The Apthorp Choir’.

A key worker was assigned to the resident at the time of visit. Residents commented that they were unaware of their plans but were aware of being weighed regularly and being asked about how they were. Engagement between residents/relatives and carers was addressed by several notices throughout the home and information was given on how to complain or address an issue. However, they were informed that the process is being amended to a more personal approach in assessing residents’ satisfaction.

At the time, the team were told the Butterfly Scheme for ensuring personalised dementia care is being introduced. The team were informed patients were being discharged to the care home without being given relevant information on medication or on equipment that is needed to be in place before they move in.

All team members observed lunch served by the kitchen, which had been awarded 5 stars due to the very good standard of food served.

The Healthwatch team were happy with the visit, particularly with the level of cleanliness and the good food.

The report makes the following recommendations:

Apthorp care home should make sure hand gel at the main entrance is always available; ensure the proposed scheme for engaging with residents and relatives is introduced and is effective; and finally, WiFi could be made available throughout the home.

A recommendation made to the CCG was to ensure that the Rapid Treatment Team continue to provide an effective focused service to the home.

A recommendation to Healthwatch was to provide assistance to the home and liaise with local health bodies to ensure residents are discharged from hospitals at appropriate times along with relevant information, medicines and equipment.

The Manager commented that the report was "fair and factually correct." They said they had already addressed the issue of the hand gel at the main entrance, and the first full meeting of the resident and relatives committee had taken place, with the next one booked imminently.