"Care of a family member"

A close relative was admitted to Rampton almost 2 years ago.

The first few months at Rampton were not very easy for my relative as they were on an assessment ward and were not able to participate in many activities. I was also struggling to come to terms with the situation and to learn how to handle visits.

Generally, I am very impressed with the care provided at Rampton. The majority of staff are extremely helpful (from Reception staff to senior management). I have also benefited tremendously from the Carers meetings. It is good to meet with other carers and be able to learn from their experiences. It is also good to offer some encouragement and support to others. I also like the opportunity to meet hospital staff and appreciate the time they give up to join our meetings. Some of the topics covered over the past couple of years have helped me understand how the hospital operates to give patients the best care possible.

The key issue at the moment seems to be the lack of resources. With the salaries available it seems difficult to fill vacancies, and to retain staff that do take up positions. It is also looks like staff numbers have been reduced as budgets are cut. 

One of the impacts of this is that my relative often has their activities cancelled. To make matters worse this is often done at the last minute. It isn't good for anyone's state of mind to be sitting in the waiting area expecting to go for a swim and then to be told it isn't going to happen. This happens regularly, upsets my relative and frustrates me and staff on the wards. As a minimum, some advance notice should be given out of general courtesy to patients. The staffing issues also need to be addressed.

Stopping pets being taken in to patient visits was also a bad move in my opinion. I have voiced this on many occasions, and still feel strongly about it. Our dog was assessed as suitable undergoing lengthy assessments by a dog behavioural specialist. She passed with flying colours and then the hospital changed its policy. I still don't know why. I was told that it was to come in line with the other two hospitals, but have since been told that the others do allow dogs to visit. Interestingly, everyone seems to agree that contact with suitable animals is really good for the patients.

I also think the hospital has a long way to go to introduce more technology for the patients to use. Some of the restrictions in place seem ridiculous. My relative was allowed an mp3 player, but it is so basic you can't choose what music to listen to. I had a better one in 2001, that I used when commuting on the train in to London! In a digital age, patients need to be up to speed with the internet and eCommerce. I fully understand the challenges involved, but a function rich Intranet, with limited access to some Internet content is perfectly possible to provide from a technical perspective.

Another area that could be improved is where visits are held. It is very difficult to have a natural conversation with my relative when we are in a tiny room with a member of staff sitting in the corner. We need a more comfortable environment to meet in with enough space. On some wards we met in the dining room which was acceptable as it was more like sitting in a cafe, with staff on another table. It would also good to have an outside area for occasional use during the warmer months.