Enter and view: Trinity Building, Springfield Hospital

Healthwatch Wandsworth undertook an enter and view visit to Jupiter and Lavender Wards, Trinity Building at Springfield Hospital, on 24 and 31 July 2026. The visit explored patients’ experiences of acute adult inpatient mental health services and involved interviews with 15 patients and six staff members. Most patients reported feeling safe and supported by staff, and many spoke positively about their ability to stay in contact with family and friends, the ward environment, and the care they received.

The report found that the wards were generally calm, clean and well maintained, with bright communal spaces and good access to outdoor areas. Staff were described as caring and committed, and staff themselves reported positive team relationships and support from management. However, both patients and staff highlighted that staffing capacity could be stretched, affecting the amount of one-to-one support available and limiting opportunities for meaningful engagement between staff and patients.

Several areas for improvement were identified. Patients reported mixed experiences of involvement in care planning and decisions about medication, with some feeling insufficiently informed about changes to their treatment. Concerns were also raised about delays or cancellations of escorted leave due to staffing pressures, a lack of regular one-to-one time with staff, limited engagement with activities, and insufficient promotion of opportunities for patients to provide feedback about their care.

The report concluded that the wards provided a generally positive and therapeutic environment but that staffing pressures affected aspects of patient experience. Recommendations included improving access to escorted leave, increasing patient involvement in care planning and medication decisions, enhancing one-to-one support, expanding activities, encouraging patient feedback, and increasing the involvement of peer support workers following incidents involving restraint.