Adult Mental Health Services - Tower Hamlets Directorate

Not all patients knew about advocacy services, and one patient felt that their rights as a voluntary patient were not properly protected. People who use the service felt safe and were comfortable speaking to staff. One of the risk assessments we looked at did not include sufficient detail as to how potential risks were going to be managed.

Patients told us that their physical health needs had been assessed and were being met whilst they were in hospital.

Activities available to people using the service varied between wards. On Globe ward where patients were settled and relaxed staff encouraged and engaged people to participate in a variety of activities. On Roman ward where several people were acutely unwell and requiring one to one observations there were fewer activities available and less interaction between patients who were not on one to one observations and staff.

We were told that when wards become busy, patients can 'sleep in' to Globe and Roman wards from other areas and that when they are full, some of their patients have to 'sleep out' on other wards.

People who use the service told us that staff had the right skills and experience to do their jobs, and staff told us that they felt supported. Patients on Roman ward did comment that it didn't always seem that enough staff was on duty.

Patients told us that the ward was comfortably furnished. Despite servicing of the air conditioning system, regulating the temperature on some parts of Roman ward remained an issue.

We spoke with people using inpatient and community services, they told us they were supported to engage in a range of activities. People using inpatient services gave mixed views about the meals provided. During our visits the wards we visited were clean and hygienic.