This in from Isle of Wight Healthwatch. In their own words. Ed
Following last month’s routine inspection, the areas that the CQC highlighted as needing development in 2013 mirror those from a previous CQC report, published in 2011, which stated that one person had not been involved in planning their care and was not sure whether they had been detained under the Mental Health Act. Also, two others said they wanted more time to talk to nurses.
Lack of advocacy
The CQC report highlights a lack of advocacy at Sevenacres.
Healthwatch Isle of Wight finds this particularly concerning as their recent report ‘Bringing It Together’ regarding mental health support for local children and young people showed those questioned found advocacy to be a good way for them to find out what help is available to them.
Lack of proper record keeping
Dominic Crouch – Chairman Healthwatch Isle of Wight said,
“I have studied the Sevenacres report and am pleased to say there is abundant evidence of good care of the patients by all staff. There is a good relationship between most patients and the staff and evidence of consultation and agreed care plans.
“The fundamental problem has been the lack of proper record keeping. This has been, in part, due to a new IT system. The hospital is aware of this and is putting in place improvements to ensure that the good work being done by staff is reflected in patients’ records.”
Lack of robust systems
Pam Fenna – Healthwatch Isle of Wight Enter and View Panel Lead (former Head of Occupational Therapy, specialising in Psychiatry of Old Age) said,
“By their own admission the reported problems of poor involvement of patients, relatives and other agencies in care planning is not due to having insufficient staff. Lack of robust systems or adherence to systems that are in place must be making patients feel they are not party to decisions made about them and not given all they need to make informed choices.
“It seems apt that poor communication with patients, formal, and informal carers is something that Healthwatch Isle of Wight already had on its work plan for the coming year.”
Share your experiences
One of the areas that Healthwatch Isle of Wight’s current workplan is focussing on is communication between those who give and receive health and care services.
Anyone who wishes to share their experiences with us (good or bad) can do so by ringing 01983 608608 or by emailing [email protected]
The report is embedded below for your convenience
