Princess Royal Hospital Ward 8 (Elective Orthopaedic) - Enter & View Visit Report

Report - 2 September 2019

We wanted to find out if patients were treated with dignity, have privacy respected, and how staff respond appropriately and with compassion to meet healthcare needs. Also, to find out how patients living with Dementia are cared for and supported.

Summary

In 2018 concerns were raised about Maternity Services provided by the SATH hospitals (Royal Shrewsbury, and Princess Royal - Telford), including those related to historical concerns. An Independent Inquiry was initiated and is in progress. The visit to Ward 8 would understand the patients experience of hospital care.

We wanted to learn about:

The ward environment - observe the layout of the ward, and the staffing arrangements
Patients experience of being treated with dignity and respect and if they feel comfortable on the ward; observed interactions between staff and patients
The experiences of patients living with Dementia, and how the staff and ward environment support these patients
The assessment processes, and preparations for discharge
Hear about the patient’s experiences in hospital and their understanding of the arrangements for discharge
Contributing factors that delay a patient’s discharge from hospital

Key Findings

There was a nice atmosphere on the ward, none of the patients we spoke with had anything negative to say, they felt that all the staff were excellent
The ward was clean, tidy, bright and there was no clutter
Patients told us the care they had received had been outstanding and respectful
Patients had experienced several cancelled appointments for their operation
New Joint School patients were invited to attend before being admitted, which gave them information about the operation, what to expect after the operation and any equipment needed. It would then be delivered to their home prior to them being discharged
This new process was enabling patients to be discharged from hospital in a timely manner two to three days after surgery, as everything was in place which freed up beds for other patients
Patients felt that the staff were approachable, compassionate, kind, caring and thoughtful