Visit to Yew and Willow Wards at Redwoods Centre, Shrewsbury

Healthwatch Shropshire undertook an Enter and View visit to Yew and Willow Wards at the Redwoods Centre, Shrewsbury on 13 May 2026.

The visit found that patients were overwhelmingly positive about the care and support provided by staff. Patients described staff as caring, approachable and supportive, and many felt their treatment was helping them recover and move towards greater independence. People particularly valued opportunities to take part in activities, develop practical life skills and access approved leave into the community as part of their rehabilitation.

Patients generally described both wards as calm, comfortable and safe environments. Feedback highlighted positive experiences of care and treatment, good relationships with staff and the important role of activities such as cooking, gardening and sport. However, some patients expressed frustration when staffing pressures affected access to approved leave or when moving between wards resulted in changes to privileges. There were also concerns about limited awareness of care plans, a lack of continuity when professionals changed, and insufficient culturally appropriate food choices.

Healthwatch Shropshire concluded that the wards were providing high-quality, recovery-focused care with strong therapeutic relationships between staff and patients. Recommendations included improving patients’ understanding of their care plans, strengthening continuity when professionals change, minimising disruption to approved leave, improving communication when patients move between wards, reviewing food choices to better reflect cultural needs and continuing to provide the meaningful activities that patients said supported their recovery.