Enter and View: The Wintle Ward at the Warneford Hospital

Healthwatch Oxfordshire made an Enter and View visit to the Wintle Ward at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford in November 2025. 

This is an adult inpatient psychiatric ward for women run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.  

This visit was part of a programme of visits to a range of services within Oxfordshire. 

During this visit Healthwatch Oxfordshire spoke to three patients and nine members of staff. 

Key findings

• The ward is easy to find, with clear signage and a staffed reception.
• There is extensive useful information displayed throughout the ward about mental health care and Oxford Health services, though no visible guidance on how to make a complaint.
• Despite being in an older Grade II listed building, the ward is clean, well‑maintained and secure, with controlled entry and clear internal signage.
• Facilities include 16 bedrooms, multiple toilets and showers (including disabled access), a large lounge, a small staff room and a dedicated de‑escalation room.
• The de‑escalation room and activity room are often used for consultations and staff meetings.
• The garden is small but peaceful, and patients have supervised access to laundry facilities and lockers; however, the ward lacks a hearing loop.
• The ward environment was calm and well‑managed during the visit, with members of staff appearing friendly, approachable and supportive towards patients.
• Patient feedback suggested improvements such as reorganising the activity room, updating the welcome board, offering music lessons and adding outdoor seating to make the garden more inviting.
• Staff reported feeling well supported in their development and training, but noted ongoing challenges with limited space, often relying on shared areas for consultations and group sessions.

Recommendations

In its report, Healthwatch Oxfordshire made the following recommendations to Oxford Health:

• Display a clear, friendly welcome sign at the ward entrance.
• Install a hearing loop for patients with hearing impairments.
• Increase awareness of language support by providing clear, visible information on how to access interpreting services.
• Install a water fountain in the staff room or lounge, reducing the need for staff to leave the area during shifts.
• Update the activity board weekly.
• Reorganise the activity room.
• Provide tables and chairs in the garden area.
• Ensure consultations take place in private, designated rooms rather than shared spaces.
• Repaint the de‑escalation room in a soothing, restful colour in line with NHS England recommendations.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire sent its report and recommendations to Oxford Health. The ward manager replied with a detailed response and action plan setting out how the trust intends to make the suggested improvements.