Your Care
Whilst in hospital we want to give you the best care possible and make sure your individual needs are met. As well as this, we need to keep you safe and ensure your stay is pleasant and productive.
We want you to:
- Be fully involved in decisions about your care and treatment
- Have a comprehensive assessment of what your needs are
- Have a Named Nurse and Occupational Therapist to coordinate your journey through from admission to discharge
- Devise a comprehensive plan of care in collaboration with your named nurse
- Have a copy of your care plan and Safety Assessment
- Be involved in regular reviews to check that everything is going ok
- Have support for your carers/family if they need it
- Be followed up if you go on leave, and after you leave hospital, to support you through your recovery
Your Assessment
Listening to you
We begin by talking to you about your mental health needs. Sometimes we also need you to have tests to check any physical problems which may be making things worse. We’ll always talk to you about these first. When we’ve got a clear picture of what the problem is, we can provide treatment to help you recover.
The things we’ll talk to you about will include:
- What’s happened to bring you onto the ward and how this can be addressed
- Your mental health including your thoughts and feelings
- Any physical health issues
- Family, relationships and any caring responsibilities you have
- What you do during the day and whether you need any help with day-to-day activities such as shopping or looking after yourself.
We’ll also make sure that if you have any particular requirements because of your race, economic disadvantage, gender, age, religion or beliefs, disability or sexuality they are taken into account and planned into your care.
Physical health
Sometimes we might need to do a specialist assessment. If you need the protection and support of the Mental Health Act or the Mental Capacity Act, we’ll explain about this too.
When you are admitted to the ward the Doctor will carry out a physical examination because your physical health is important.
Having a healthy body will help you to feel better. This will normally involve:
- Measuring your height and weight
- Taking your blood pressure
- Asking for a blood sample
- Asking for a urine sample
If you have any concerns at all regarding your physical health, please discuss these with the Nurses or your Doctor and also let us know if you already have any pre-existing medical problems.
Medication
If it is decided that a change in your medication is required, this will be discussed and explained to you. Sometimes the Doctor will discuss different types of medications which are available to treat your condition.
The ward does have Pharmacists who are very happy to sit down and discuss these different medication options with you, and can also advise on things such as side effects and different dosages.
When you meet with the Doctor they will discuss what medication you are taking, if you are having any side effects or if you have noticed any positive changes in your mental health.
Ongoing assessment
The treatment and support you’re getting will be checked regularly with you to make sure it is effective, or if any changes need to be made.
Before you leave
Before you leave hospital you will be invited to a Care Plan Approach review with your Care Co-ordinator. During this meeting we will talk about the arrangements for your discharge and what services you will need afterwards.
The most important thing about any review is that you have the chance to talk about what’s important to you.
You can involve a relative, friend, carer or advocate in your review if you would like to.
