"Good physio & OT, poor nursing care, avoid if you…"

I spent several months at Frenchay BIRU neuro rehab facility. If you have any choice over where you or your loved one receives treatment, I would avoid here.

The physiotherapy, OT and SLT teams are caring and dedicated to patient recovery. However on the whole, the nursing care is poor.

Despite being a specialist neurological facility, there seemed to be a lack of awareness of mental capacity act, and I often felt patronised and disrespected by nursing staff. Nursing staff often appeared unmotivated, eating and drinking at desks, leaving buzzers ringing, rushing personal hygiene, leaving patients for long periods in their wheelchairs. Hand hygiene was poor, and i often had no soap in my room.

For a specialist facility aimed at rehabilitating patients, there was lack of equipment including hoists, shower chairs, and adapted utensils e.g. beakers. I felt that this limited my rehab progression at times.

Management was poor, with nursing staff complaining of a lack of support and training. This was apparent in the poor personal care I received and the high turnover of staff. Management appeared wilfully ignorant when I expressed concerns towards my care.

Overall, as a place to be entirely dependent on those around you, I would I would not recommend Frenchay BIRU.