"Issues with laundry and facilities on Brodie ward"

About: Royal Cornhill Hospital / Older Adult Mental Health Royal Cornhill Hospital Older Adult Mental Health Aberdeen AB25 2ZH

Posted by Wisteria (as a parent/guardian), 3 years ago

I am my brothers legal guardian. I know hospitals have been under pressure due to Covid 19.
In early June 2020 I received a call from a member of Brodie ward asking if I could supply more clothes for my brother specifically trousers.
4 days later the clothes were delivered to the Ward.
A week after, I received a call from a member of Brodie ward regarding a meeting, on that call I was asked again if I could provide more clothes specifically trousers.
4 days later clothes were delivered to the Ward.
Two days later I was allowed to visit, I looked at the clothes in his wardrobe and asked a member of staff where were the clothes supplied in early June? In fact where were his clothes in general?
Seemingly they were at the laundry and also his new clothes were at the laundry being labelled.
A few days later I went to visit my brother who was wearing pyjamas which he never does, he was wearing them as there were only pyjama bottoms left in his wardrobe. I asked if his new clothes had been received on Monday and was advised they were at the laundry being labelled.
£507. 49 and 44 days later I would like to know what is wrong with Royal Cornhill's laundry facilities and when can my brother expect to receive ALL HIS CLOTHES? There are going to be far to many for his little wardrobe!
I am sure he will not be the only one on the ward or maybe the hospital with the issue of no clean clothes.
I also learned today that the shower in my brothers room has not worked since the day they decanted and moved ward. I am led to believe that is not the only shower not working in Brodie ward.
My brother has an issue with being washed and he does not communicate well with the staff and I now wonder if it is him being taken to another room to be showered is distressing to him and is the problem?
In a report in October 2017 by Alison Thomson Executive Director (Nursing), The Mental Welfare Commission, it states: "We heard the wards are to be decanted one by one and completely refurbished as a result of recent review of risk."
I have had occasion to visit Brodie ward many times over the years and went back with someone who had the misfortune to spend some time there some years ago.
The ex-patient said apart from removing the risk, adding new curtain rails painting and new flooring that was all that had been done, definitely not a complete refurbishment. And obviously not the showers.
I would love to know how much was spent on "completely refurbishing the wards"? I was advised to complain to the hospital, I have a funny feeling this might get a quicker result.

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Responses

Shona Sinkins

Lead Nurse, Division B,

NHS Grampian

Submitted on 27/07/2020 at 09:52

Published on Care Opinion on 29/07/2020 at 14:50

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us.
Can I ask that you contact the senior charge nurse on the ward who will be able explain and advise about clothing on the ward.?
I am sorry that you feel that refurbishments have not improved the environment. There is a significant programme of works ongoing on the hospital site and if you contact me on the details below I would be happy to discuss further with you.
Shona Sinkin, Lead Nurse
Division B, Royal Cornhill Hospital
Aberdeen
01224 557311 /07876258433
Thanks

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Kirsten Dickson

Quality Improvement and Assurance Facilitator, Quality Improvement and Assurance Team,

NHS Grampian

Submitted on 11/08/2020 at 13:04

Published on Care Opinion at 13:04

Dear Wisteria,
The Linen Services Team have asked that I share the response below on their behalf:
We recently noticed your story on the Care Opinion site and as members of the Linen Team were disappointed to hear that the clothes of an NHS Grampian patient had gone missing. This isn’t a situation we would want any patient or their family member to experience – we understand that clothing is expensive and take great care of all clothing we receive.
We would like to take this opportunity to explain a bit about the clothes labelling process to ensure loss doesn’t happen.
There is a red box system in place for patient’s clothes to be labelled. It is dated when it leaves the ward to the Sewing Room and dated when it is returned from the Sewing Room, labelled, to the ward.
From our records we can see your brother had clothes requesting labelling on 16th March 2020 and they were returned to Brodie Ward on 20th March 2020. No further clothing products have been sent to the Sewing Room requesting labelling for your brother since that time.
Linen Services, inclusive of the Sewing Room, work to certification ISO 9001:2015. We are regularly audited by an external party and clothes labelling is an integrated part of the Quality Management System.
We are sorry we cannot offer further assistance in tracing your brother’s clothing and would, as Shona Sinkins suggests, contact the Senior Charge Nurse at Brodie ward for help.
Many thanks,
Linda Paterson, Linen Service Manager
Anne Alexander, Deputy Linen Service Manager
Juliette Laing, Head of Services

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Update posted by Wisteria (a parent/guardian) 2 years ago

I am responding to the letter I posted 11 Months ago regarding my brothers clothes. After the above issue, I asked for a stocktake of the clothes Brodie ward held for my brother. This was supplied to me on the 23rd July 2020 it stated Cornhill Hospital had 26 pairs of Joggers and Marks &Spencers had delivered another 9 pairs on the 20th July which would have been in the laundry being labled. I am not going to list the rest of the clothes as I think this speaks for itself.
I had a meeting with my brothers Doctor and Nurses and it was explained that the shower in his room had an overhead showerhead and it was not suitable to use as anyone helping was soaked. This was a very acceptable explanation it was unfortunate that I was told the shower was not working.
I apologies to everyone at that meeting for this reply but unfortunately enough is enough.

Michael Forbes

Nurse Manager, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities,

NHS Grampian

Submitted on 15/07/2021 at 16:55

Published on Care Opinion on 16/07/2021 at 11:58

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. I’m sorry to hear of the ongoing issues with your brother’s clothing and the facilities in Brodie Ward. I have discussed the issue of the shower facilities with the Deputy Charge Nurse in Brodie. The Deputy Charge Nurse feels there may have been some miscommunication regarding the suitability of the showers on the ward and would like the opportunity to clarify the situation with you. With that in mind, would you mind contacting the ward directly, where someone will be happy to discuss further with you.
Michael Forbes
Nurse Manager, Royal Cornhill Hospital.
Tel: 01224 557037

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