Visit report Wotton Lawn Hospital, Gloucester
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Healthwatch Gloucestershire was approached by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to undertake a number of visits to Wotton Lawn Hospital to understand what it feels like to be a patient staying in the hospital. In total, Healthwatch Gloucestershire carried out seven visits across weekdays, evenings and weekends, between October and December 2023.
Wotton Lawn Hospital is an 88-bed acute mental health hospital near the centre of Gloucester. It provides inpatient services for the county of Gloucestershire. It has four admission wards, a nurse-led psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a low secure unit (LSU).
- Feedback about activities available to patients was generally positive, both in terms of what is available on the wards and via the therapy department.
- The majority felt more access to calm and sensory spaces would be beneficial.
- Most patients described feeling safe in the hospital and the majority were positive about locking the doors at the entrance to the hospital, though some concern was raised by staff in relation to this possibly leading to increased anxiety for patients.
- Most felt that staff were approachable, well trained and communicated well. Good levels of staffing were reported.
- All staff described feeling safe whilst working in the hospital, though there was some concern about the lighting outside the hospital when leaving or arriving in the dark.
- Responses were more mixed in relation to patient and carer/relative involvement in care planning.