Enter and view: Victoria Highgrove

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove carried out an Enter and View visit to Victoria Highgrove Nursing Home in February 2016. The home provides intermediate care for older adults, meaning residents generally stay for shorter periods while recovering or regaining independence. Overall, Healthwatch found good standards of care and positive arrangements for accessing primary healthcare services, with staff described as responsive and knowledgeable about residents’ health needs. The service was rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission. 

Because residents were only staying temporarily, most remained registered with their own GP rather than registering through the home. Residents reported seeing a GP when needed, often weekly during their stay. Routine screening programmes and annual health checks were not usually provided because of the short-term nature of admissions, although staff arranged medical, dental and specialist support where concerns were identified. 

The home had systems in place to support oral health, medication management, hearing care and mobility needs. Staff assisted residents with cleaning dentures and teeth when required, monitored hearing aids, worked with audiology services and ensured access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and appropriate walking aids. Residents did not report problems with prescriptions, dentures or personal equipment while staying at the service.

Healthwatch concluded that primary healthcare support within the home was generally effective and well managed. The only recommendation was that the service consider making more information available for residents and visitors about screening programmes, NHS health checks and other preventative healthcare services. The provider accepted the recommendation and committed to making this information available.