Dykebar Hospital care plans praised by watchdog
A reliance on one- to- one care for Dykebar Hospital inpatients is being brought under control, according to a mental health watchdog., writes Jack Thomson, Local Democracy Reporter.
The hospital’s South Ward, which provides care for patients between 18 and 65, had been warned last year that high levels of enhanced observation needed to be addressed.
A year on, improvements have been noted by inspectors, who have confirmed enhanced observation has been reduced to “one or two patients at any one time”.
Staff on the ward have been praised for knowing their patients well and being familiar with their individual needs.
A report also said workers were “friendly, helpful and respectful” towards patients.
The mixed- sex ward was commended for its focus on supporting patients’ physical healthcare needs, as well as those related to mental health.
The report read: “Several patients we reviewed also had complex physical healthcare needs in addition to their mental health needs.
“These appeared to be well met with regular physical health checks and monitoring and referral to specialist services if required.”
Individual bedrooms of patients were also said to be “pleasant and well-decorated”.
However, challenges in accessing community resources such as accommodation and support for those ready for discharge, were recorded.
Patients are often frequently moved between Dykebar’s South Ward and Ward 3B at Leverndale Hospital - another adult acute inpatient service based in Glasgow. The report said this caused difficulties.
It reads: “The split location of two acute wards on different hospital sites continues to cause difficulties, particularly when patients are moved between the wards.
“This can be disruptive to their care and the differences in the standard of patient accommodation between the wards is also an issue for patients.
“From speaking to ward staff it would seem there are no imminent plans to change this situation, the commission would however wish to be kept informed of longer term plans for these wards.”
Christine Laverty, head of Mental Health, Addictions and Learning Disability Services at Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said she is “pleased” and “enoucraged” by the findings.
She said: “We welcome this report and the positive comments made by the inspectors.
“I’m pleased they highlight the quality of the individual care plans and that these are reviewed regularly by multi- disciplinary teams with patient input and attendance at meetings.
“The inspectors also highlighted the regular meetings between the ward and the local Community Mental Health Team which provide a formalised link between the ward and community.
“This was held up as representing good practice as are the weekly meetings with social work to discuss social work referrals.
“I’m particularly encouraged to see special mention made regarding patients speaking very positively about ward staff and how they always communicate and consult with them.
“Our staff should be proud that patients feel well cared for, respected and included in discussions around their care.”