Enter and View: Penn Hospital, Mental Health Unit

This was an announced Enter and View visit. Healthwatch Wolverhampton had been looking at mental health services as part of its programme of work for the year 2015/16. In May 2015 an unannounced Enter and View visit was conducted and it was agreed to follow this up later in the year. The main aim of the visit was to get a better understanding of services delivered from the hospital particularly around discharge and support given post discharge. In addition a tour would take place of the ward for adults over 65.

Summary of Findings

The overall impression was that staff had considerable experience of working in mental health; they were motivated in caring for patients with dignity and compassion. Challenges in terms of bed management on the wards for adults under 65, which result in Wolverhampton patients being placed out of the borough even though they may still remain within the Trust’s catchment area. For adults over 65 it was noted that the team have to deal with various complex conditions which can result in long stays, this in turn present challenges for staffing rotas due to nurse ratios where in some cases one to one care is needed.

This report was produced by the previous Healthwatch Wolverhampton service provider, Engaging Communities Solutions CIC.