Enter and View: Chemotherapy Day Unit, New Cross Hospital

Healthwatch Wolverhampton receive feedback on a range of services and treatments received at New Cross Hospital. This was an unannounced Enter and View visit at the Snowdrop Centre following a prior visit in December 2015. Healthwatch Wolverhampton had received concerns around staffing levels at weekends and the temperature of the unit as patients waiting to be treated had complained of feeling cold. Therefore it was decided that a revisit would take place unannounced on a weekend.

Summary of Findings

Throughout the visit staff were observed to be supporting patients even when it became busy. There was good interaction between patients and staff who were undertaking their duties. Although thermometers had been introduced to the unit and positioned so they could be monitored by staff, it was not clear how this could be regulated for individual patients or what criteria was used for setting the temperature. Blankets and fans are offered to patients who are either too hot or too cold; the majority of patients who were receiving treatment during the visit seemed to find the temperature appropriate. No specific staffing or management issue was apparent although increased demand for the services provided at the Snowdrop Centre would require more staff, resources and physical space.

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