Enter and view: St Lukes Hospital

Healthwatch Leicestershire conducted an Enter and View visit at St Lukes Hospital in January 2018, as part of the local Healthwatch programme of visits to community hospitals across the county. The purpose of these visits was to observe the delivery of hospital care to patients and capture the experience of patients, their families or carers and staff at a community hospital.

Enter and View representatives visited the premises, having given prior notice, engaged with seven patients and two relatives. In addition to these conversations, much of the report is based upon observations made by the representatives.

Key areas explored within the report are access, ward environment, provision and accessibility of patient information, staffing, quality of care and discharge process.

St Lukes has two wards; specialist stroke rehabilitation on Ward 1 and general rehabilitation and palliative care on Ward 3. Key findings indicate that both wards operate well in some areas and provide good patient care. The report highlights some aspects relating to the management of privacy, dignity and care not under the direct control of the staff.

A total of 8 recommendations were made, which included suggestions around increasing patient privacy, improving décor and furniture layout, updating visiting information, increasing community support links and further recruitment of volunteers.

In terms of impact, the provider responded to 3 of the 8 recommendations, one of which has been acted upon and the hospital have now installed privacy film to the windows on the wards.