Updated
1 November 2016
Ambleside
Core service provided: Acute admission ward
Male/female/mixed: female
Capacity: 21
Langdale
Core service provided: Acute admission ward
Male/female/mixed: male
Capacity: 18 + 3 bed extra care area
Core service provided: Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and health based places of safety
Male/female/mixed: mixed
Capacity:
Grasmere
Core service provided: Longstay/forensic/secure services
Male/female/mixed: mixed
Capacity: 10
Dorothy Pattison Hospital is based in Walsall and provides assessment and treatment for people with mental health problems. It has three wards: Ambleside and Langdale wards are acute wards, while Grasmere ward provides longer-term rehabilitation for adult male and female patients.
We found that the services were safe and that there were enough staff in most wards. However, some wards were occasionally short of staff and relied on temporary staff who did not always have the skills and knowledge to fully meet people’s needs.
There was evidence of good risk assessment taking place and every patient record we saw had a completed assessment. However, there was not always an associated risk management plan to manage the identified risks.
We saw that people who use services were treated with dignity and respect and saw staff and people who use services interacting positively with each other. Some people were involved in developing their care plans.
The Mental Health Act responsibilities were discharged appropriately, although actions from previous Mental Health Act monitoring visits had not been fully resolved.
We saw good examples of learning from audits and incidents being shared, and changes to practice being made as a result.
The hospital worked well with the general hospital (which was on the same site) regarding physical health needs.
The health based place of safety did not meet the recognised environmental standards.
We saw that the rehabilitation ward was mixed gender and placed people at risk of receiving care that compromised their dignity.
Forensic inpatient or secure wards
Updated
14 May 2014
People told us that they felt safe and if they had concerns about their safety they would be able to speak with staff.
Risk assessments were completed and reviewed at regular intervals. The action was determined by the presenting level of risk.
Staffing levels were variable with staff reporting shortages on the ward. Bank and occasionally agency staff were used to cover these shortfalls but we were told that they did not always have the skills and knowledge to fully meet the needs of people.
People were involved with the planning and review of their care. Some people told us they were fully involved with making decisions and choices about their care. Other people did not feel so involved.
People were positive about the staff saying they were helpful, friendly and supportive. Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about the care and support needs of people on the wards.
People were supported to make a complaint when they felt the need to do so. Information was available on the wards to support people who wished to complain.
Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units
Updated
1 November 2016
Ambleside ward is a 21-bed ward that provides acute mental health care for adults of working age within the Dorothy Pattison Hospital.
It is a female-only ward which cares for:
Dorothy Pattison Hospital is run by Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and was last inspected in February 2016 and was rated by CQC as requiring improvement.
Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units
Updated
14 May 2014
Health based places of safety
We found that where it was necessary to use the HBPOS, people were kept safe and assessed quickly. Staff were working within the Mental Health Act Code of Practice. We saw that attempts were made to inform people of their rights when they were placed in the hospital based place of safety.
We found that the staff and managers were providing services to people who required to be cared for in the hospital based place of safety in safe, caring, effective and responsive ways. However we felt that improvements were needed to ensure that the HBPOS were managed in better ways by improved audits and policies and by ensuring that appropriate action was completed following our Mental Health Act monitoring visits and to meet national guidance.