Enter and view: Priory Lombard House Little Ellingham

Healthwatch Norfolk undertook an enter and view visit to Priory Lombard House in Little Ellingham on 30 January 2023. From September 2022 – April 2023, their Enter and View visits were part of a project called ‘My Views Matter’. This project specifically focused on residential and inpatient care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in Norfolk. Healthwatch implemented this project in response to the tragic events at Cawston Park, in which three residents with learning disabilities died between 2018 and 2020. One of the key findings from the Safeguarding Adults Review was that residents and in-patients and their families were not being listened to.  They spoke to 5 residents and  2 staff.

During this Enter and View visit Healthwatch focused on what patients thought about their care, and the degree to which they were being listened to by staff. 

Voice choice and personalisation: All of the people Healthwatch spoke to were satisfied with how well they were listened to in the service. Fortnightly group meetings were held where patients could discuss activities and raise concerns. There were also regular one-to-one meetings with named nurses. 

Premises: The premises were clean, well-maintained and well-organised. There were good facilities for patients to use including a woodworking shed, games room and gym, and two annex flats for those preparing to leave the service. 

Activities: The facilities available in the home made a range of in-house activities possible that people told us they enjoyed. Some people volunteered outside the service, and people were encouraged to make outings into the community. They could request outings from staff, who would usually agree to requests. 

Relationships and community: All the people Healthwatch spoke to had high opinions of the staff and they witnessed positive interactions between staff and patients during the visit. Relations were less cordial between patients, but people said that they were satisfied with their living situation all the same. Patients were encouraged to spend time in the community, including through volunteering. 

Food and health: The food options that Healthwatch saw were healthy and sounded appetising. Menus were formulated with the input of patients, who were satisfied with the choices offered and participated in food preparation. People stayed active through outings in the community and accessed local community gyms and swimming pools. 

Relations with the broader health and social care system: The manager said that relations with other services were good, but there had been some problems contacting the local GP surgery. 

Overall, the people Healthwatch spoke to were happy with the care they received at Lombard House, and seemed to be listened to well by a responsive service.