Redwood Ward is a seven bed high dependency complex care service for men with learning disabilities and complex mental health needs. Each week on the ward service users attend a community meeting in which they feedback their hospital experience and suggest ideas to improve the ward.
Recent feedback was that although service users felt that the ward environment was nice and not too hospital-like, more could be done to make it feel homely. One suggestion was that they would like to have porcelain crockery and metal cutlery.
This request was discussed and risk assessed by the ward’s Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). The MDT decided that use of plastic was a blanket rule and quite restrictive, which needed to be acted on immediately. As a result the ward now has metal cutlery and porcelain crockery, as well as plastic available, and this is individually risk assessed per individual service user.
In addition other items were bought such as plants, pillows, place mats and table cloths to make the dining room look even more homely. Some of the service users went on a group outing and chose the items themselves. Finally, new furniture has also recently been added to the lounge.
Everyone is happy with the new look and the service users have enjoyed showing off the new décor to visitors and staff.