Enter and View: Derwent Clinic

Healthwatch County Durham undertook an announced enter and view visit to Derwent Clinic on 29 August 2024.  They wanted to understand patients' perspectives of being treated by the clinic for mental health problems.  They spoke to 13 people.

The service users  were generally happy with the support they were offered from Derwent Clinic, they acknowledged that staff were generally friendly and accommodating. However, a member of staff felt that they needed training to carry out their work more effectively in meeting user’s needs. 

Some users mentioned problems such as being unable to get a GP medication review because of meds being given via Psychiatrist and another feeling they had no support around involvement in their own care plan. Although the comments from staff pointed out a concern that there can be a shortage of staff, they are trying to avoid this affecting service users by making sure users are slotted in with someone else (often a duty worker). 

Both users and staff feel the site has issues such as its general location, difficult to get to, rooms not soundproofed so confidentiality is compromised (for example).

 However, Healthwatch County Durham has continued to hear negative experiences from mental Health service users generally and service providers since the Enter and View was carried out. These experiences were similar to the views that led to the Enter and View being arranged.

The report contains 11 recommendations and a response from the provider.