"My time as inpatient in Arnold lodge"

Hello  I'm a female patient and have been for almost two and a half years in Arnold Lodge. I have settled in well and have had a positive experience here at Arnold lodge. 

Arnold lodge has a lot to offer through structured day occupational therapy and educational staff.

patients can do arts and crafts and have access to a gym every week the staff who facilitate activities are really cool they have lots to offer as individuals and they come from all different back grounds.  its nice to be in a multicultural environment and staff treat me well. i feel listened to and i feel rewarded when i do something good because of certain privileges that i have built my access to.

I have done plenty of things like patient panel interviews meetings and forums and shop placement shop prep placement and now shop purchasing placement. Staff have always been very confident and supportive and look after patients very well 

Allotments is outside off the unit and I really enjoy these activities also going to tow path canal is very therapeutic. Occupational therapy help me to formulate my very own cv and often take myself and peers outside on leave to the different places in Leicester like water mead park Twycross zoo ,tropical build land , Abbey Park.

I have enjoyed these leaves and always remember has fantastic these time were patient shop placements last 8 weeks and also a gym cleaning placement is 6 weeks. I've done this one as well. I enjoyed it the staff put some music on for me and give me a drink and a biscuit.

The ward is run quite well, I have my own room with an En-suite toilet I have access to TV, Radio, MP3, Alarm clock, papers, pens, puzzle books, toiletries and I'm also on self meds stage 5. So, all my medicines are lock in a cupboard that i have the key.

The different days have activities like Bingo, Lucky 13, Pamper days, Wii Fit Bowling, Fresh Air, Dominoes. There is a washing machine and dryer on the ward and I have 2 slots per week to access the facilities. There is a locker for laundry washing powders and liquid and extra times, i.e toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo...

They used to serve food off ward prefer to eat on ward however low staffing has affected this also the shutter hatch for the food is temperamental and breaks quite a lot to everyone sit on table on ward. The food here used to be really nice well presented heated well tasted nice enough now it has changed it's gone wrong LOL. Its not very nice anymore in fact its rather bad.

The hospital try its best but people keep complaining and now something to complain about LOL.

Take away food is ordered once per month and as long as it's a 5 start facilities this is approved.

Sometimes on special occasion the ward staff will make a meal, Philippian, Nigerian, India it is always very good.

I have access to a hoover so I can hoover my room everyday. I like staff to encourage me to keep clean and to give me the hoover from from the cupboard. And I think staff do great at asking nurse in charge if the access is aloud. It helps to keep all patients safe so the hoover don't get in wrong hands. Same with anything really toilet rolls paper, remote controls, kitchen access.

My room is nice it has a bed and a carpet and a big window vent, a desk, wardrobe and a big chair, washing basket.

The domestic staff clean my room once per week and its nice when they use a nice air freshener. The day room is okay too and there is access to fresh air. I like staff to offer me time outside and also like to sit outside for awhile it it rain or sun. I would prefer to have a walk and do some exercise outside but the garden is too small for it. Its nice to chat with staff outside but I like it when staff notice me not up for talking and they let me sit quiet for a while. There is Lavender Rosemary to smell.

Phone is on ward it's not very private and I think a phone will be better in room with a door.