Enter and view: Halton Hospital Weaver Bridge In Patient Wards

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

Healthwatch Halton visited Halton Hospital Weaver/Bridge In-Patient Wards on 10/02/2016.

The summary of findings highlighted areas in relation to patient feedback, staff feedback and observation.

The report contains 3 recommendations. These include notices relating to “Who is who” need to be kept in a prominent place and up to date. Parking continues to be an issue on the site. There seem to be two issues needing resolving: Firstly the way of paying is complicated, not made any easier by the fact that visiting a hospital as either a patient or visitor is a stressful time. Information needs to be prominent that a car registration is needed to purchase a ticket both on the car parks and in information sent out to patients. The machines themselves are not easy to use with small buttons and unclear instructions. Secondly the issue of penalty notices being sent out to those who have purchased a ticket must be dealt with as a matter of urgency. A strategy needs to be in place regarding the use of locum consultants. Whilst the visiting team realise that sometimes a locum has to be used there appears to be an over reliance on Weaver Ward. Whilst it was said that only using locums did not have a detrimental effect on patient care the team have some concerns as to the accuracy of this.