Enter and view: Capetown Ward

Healthwatch Enfield gather information on people’s experiences of health and social care services and there are times when it is appropriate for Healthwatch Enfield to see and hear for themselves how services are being delivered: these visits are called ‘Enter and View’, they are not inspections.

Healthwatch Enfield visited Capetown Ward, Chase Farm Hospital on 01/12/2015.

The summary of findings highlighted areas in relation to patient feedback, staff feedback and observation. Healthwatch Enfield found Capetown Ward to be well-managed, with a pleasant, calm and purposeful atmosphere. Patients and carers they spoke to told them that staff were generally kind, helpful and very hard-working, but several said they thought that there were not enough nurses and healthcare assistants to deliver all the care required in a timely manner. A skilled team of therapists including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dietitians provide specialist therapies on a one to one and group basis, and patients and carers told them they found these sessions very helpful. Patients and families also benefit from help and advice from dementia and stroke specialists. Healthwatch Enfield identified many examples of good practice in the ward. Patients and carers confirmed that they felt informed and involved in decisions about care and treatment. Care-planning documents encourage a personalised approach to care, identifying and meeting individual needs. Careful preparations are made before patients are discharged. Patients were not uniformly enthusiastic about food on the ward, and Healthwatch Enfield believe the management should invite patients and carers to offer their suggestions for how to make the food more appealing. Healthwatch Enfield suggest that the hospital management should try to establish a patients’ and carers’ representative group at Chase Farm, and should also invite patients and carers to contribute their ideas for a patient information pack.

There were 7 recommendations in this report and a response from the Hospital Director indicating that the recommendations which have been made are being addressed.