Introduction
Acer ward is a 16-bedded unit providing assessment and treatment for individuals with a variety of mental health challenges. The aim of the ward is to work collaboratively with individuals accessing services and their family/carers and to offer individually tailored care within a safe and structured environment.
The ward provides specialist skills via a multi-disciplinary team consisting of:
· Nurses
· Doctors
· Occupational therapist
· Activities coordinator
· Psychologist
Social workers, Health Care Support workers, Peer Support workers, MH advocates and Patient Advocate Liaison are also available to provide a comprehensive service.
Staff do not wear a uniform but they are all required to wear a badge. There is also a photo board in the main foyer area to help you identify staff members and their job title.
Whilst the ward has controlled access via a swipe card system, all staff carry swipe cards and will be able to open the doors for you on request.
Whilst the ward has controlled access via a swipe card system, all staff carry swipe cards and will be able to open the doors for you on request.
The Environment
Acer ward is a mixed sex unit, although sleeping and personal hygiene care facilities are segregated.
Bedroom space
The ward has single rooms and dormitories, which are allocated on the basis of availability and clinical need. Each room is furnished with a single bed, chair, wardrobe and chest unit. Although rooms are allocated on admission, on occasions, patients will be required to move rooms to accommodate new arrivals. We understand this may be unsettling for your relative and we therefore minimise this as much as possible and deal with it sensitively when the need does arise. Each patient has controlled access to their bedroom via a swipe card.
Visitors are not permitted in the ward bedroom areas.
Toilets, bathrooms
There are separate male and female facilities, which include bath and shower units. Visitors can use the toilets in the main foyer of the ward.
Dining area
Meals are served in the dining area and patients are required to eat their meals in this location. Meal times on the ward are protected and we therefore ask that you do not visit during these times.
Lounge area
There is a lounge area with TV. This area is open to visitors during visiting time.
Ladies lounge
There is a designated ladies lounge on the ward with TV. Male patients and visitors are not permitted to use this room. The room may occasionally be used for interview purposes when not required by female patients, however, should the room be occupied when you want to use it, please speak to a member of staff. We will also be undertaking some structural work in the near future to accommodate a male lounge area.
Kitchen
The kitchen is accessible to your relative 24 hours a day for drinks and snacks. Patients can also help themselves to breakfast from the kitchen. The kitchen can also be used for food preparation once the OT has completed a cooking assessment for you. Patients are required to help in keeping the kitchen tidy by putting used crockery in the sink.
In the kitchen there is a microwave to prepare “ready-made” meals, and family members often bring these in when they visit. However, as the ward does not have a freezer to store frozen meals we. would ask visitors to remember that such food has been prepared on the day of purchase.
The ward does not cater for relatives or visitors, but drinks and meals can be purchased from the hospital canteen. Visitors are not permitted in the kitchen in the interests of Health & Safety.
Activities Room
There is an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) kitchen in the activities room that is used as a skills assessment and training facility. You may use this room for visits if it is not in use for activities.
Games Room
We have a small games room with a TV, X-Box and music equipment. We will be installing 2 IT workstations in here for patient use in the near future. In the meantime, IT access is via the information zone in Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
Laundry/utility room
There is a washing machine, dryer, electric iron and board for your use. Washing powder is also available. Patients may request assistance and supervision as dictated by their capabilities or you are welcome to take your relatives laundry home with you should you wish to do so.
Interview rooms
There are two consultation rooms. These are available to interview patients/their relatives in private, and for one-to-one sessions, psychology groups as required. Staff will be present at all times.
Patio area
There is an enclosed patio area with benches. You are welcome to use this area during visits.
Smoking areas
In line with the Trust No Smoking Policy, smoking is not permitted in ward areas or within hospital premises. However, Acer ward patients may smoke on the patio. Smoking is not permitted between 22.45 and 06.45 during which time the ward doors are locked. All patients using this area to smoke are reminded to dispose of discarded cigarettes in the ashtrays provided. Visitors are not permitted to smoke in this area.
If your relative would like to stop smoking during admission, we have trained staff on the ward to help with assisting with this.
Telephone facilities
There is a public telephone available for patient use on the ward. Incoming calls will come directly to the ward and can be put through to this phone for patient’s to receive. Personal mobiles may be used on the ward, however, the use of camera’s on mobile phones is not permitted in the interests of confidentiality.
Visiting
Visitors are welcome when patients are not involved in group programmes. All visitors can be in the general ward areas of the ward and are not allowed in the patients’ bedroom areas or ward kitchen. For fire and safety reasons, staff need to be aware when visitors arrive and when they leave the ward and we would ask that all visitors sign in and out of the ward using the blue folder provided at the nurse’s station in the foyer.
The visiting times are:
Monday to Friday 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 9:00pm
These are only guidelines and if you are travelling a long distance, please speak to the nurses in advance and alternative arrangements, in some cases, may be made. It may also be possible for the visit to take place off the ward, for example, in the main hospital canteen.
If you are visiting with young children (under the age of 14), they must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult (not including staff), and not left with your relative. The children must be in view of the supervisor at all times. In the case of children between the ages of 15 to 18, the team will have to judge the required level of supervision based on the individual circumstances.
A family room is available and is used according to availability during official visiting hours. However, in very special circumstances children may visit in the parent’s room. This includes mothers with a newborn baby, or if a parent is so unwell that (s)he has to be nursed in a room such as ICU.
Some of the patients on the ward may be detoxing from alcohol. Because of this, any visitors who smell of alcohol, or appear intoxicated, will be asked to leave.
Panic alarms
There are alarm buttons situated in all bedrooms which your relative can use ito summon staff in an emergency. All of our staff on the ward also carry alarms. We endeavour to maintain a safe environment at all times, however, should you feel unsafe in any way during your visit please alert the nearest member of staff and further assistance can be summoned if required.
Fire alarm
If you hear the fire alarm sounding, be ready to follow the staff instructions immediately.
Complaint/compliment procedures
Our aim is to provide a quality service. However, if you experience any difficulties related to your relatives admission, it might be helpful to discuss this in its early stages and resolve it informally with the named nurse or the ward manager. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss this with the PALS and Complaints Co-ordinator, who can also provide you with information about the support that is available to your relative. The PALS and Complaints Co-ordinator can be contacted at Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, CB21 5EF. Tel: 0800 376 0775. An information leaflet is available on the ward. This service is also available for compliments.
