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Isolated carer

Posted By BUSTER21

"Isolated carer"

About: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust / Adult mental health (inpatient)

(as a carer),

A couple of years ago my husband went onto ward b2 at bassetlaw hospital. At that particular time I had no experience of a mental health ward, what type of treatment would my husband be receiving.What would my future life be as a carer and would I be making the right decisions as a carer.

I would like to see a member of staff that could be available for initial information so that you are fully aware of what is going to happen in the coming weeks and months and to put me in the right direction for being a carer.

Talking to other carers I have found that we have all gone through this period of isolation.I would like to see a member of staff having a role description to meet and help carers on their first meeting.

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Responses

Response from Jane Danforth, Involvement & Experience Officer, Involvement, Experience and Volunteering Team, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 13 years ago
Jane Danforth
Involvement & Experience Officer, Involvement, Experience and Volunteering Team,
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Hello, my name is Jane Danforth. My role involves helping our service users, volunteers and staff to understand that Notts Healthcare wants to hear stories about our services. We reply to every story and it really helps us to improve what we do, how we do it and to hear about what works well too.

Submitted on 19/01/2011 at 12:53

picture of Jane Danforth

Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience as a carer on ward B2 at Bassetlaw Hospital.

I have passed on your posting to the managers of this service for comment.

I would also like to let you know about a new Community of Interest for Carers that is being put together presently.

If you would like more details on what this is about and how you can get involved, please contact me:

Jane Danforth: Involvement Officer 0115 9934567 jane.danforth@nottshc.nhs.uk

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Response from Involvement & Experience Officer, Involvement, Experience and Volunteering Team, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 13 years ago
We have made a change
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Submitted on 24/01/2011 at 10:15
Published on Care Opinion on 25/01/2011 at 00:00

Thank you for your feedback

Over the past few years the service provided to carers has improved considerably. Carers are recognised as an integral part of the service users recovery and as such have their own support needs. On admission to the ward the carer is provided with a Carer’s Booklet which has been developed through partnership working with the Involvement Centre at Ollerton. Carer’s were involved in the development and provided support with its launch on the ward via informal talks to the staff on what it is like to be a carer. Within the booklet is a chapter on the rights of carers to have an assessment of their needs and nursing staff ensure all carers are offered this.

The ward has a Carer Link worker who ensures the Carer Notice Board (situated just outside the ward) is maintained with up to date literature and notices. The Carer Link also has a greater knowledge of the services available to carers and can signpost to these E.g. the monthly carers group held on the unit. The carer link is responsible for maintaining the carer library which contains a number of books available to loan on various mental health problems and on being a carer. As the carer link cannot be available on every shift a member of staff is identified to be the carer link and this is written on the ward board at the entrance to the ward.

In March 2010 at the wards annual development day the morning session consisted of a benchmarking exercise to rate the service we provide to carers. This session was co –facilitated by a carer who has had a loved one on the ward. Other developments on the ward have also been supported by service users and carers. Representatives form the ward frequently attend the Involvement Centre to provide updates.

During the admission of a loved one, liaison with carers takes a high priority and carers are routinely invited to the ward round. If the carer is unable to attend, information is requested from the carer which is written in a specific ‘carer feedback’ box on the ward round information form.

Please feel free to contact me for any further information.

Regards Simon

Simon Barnitt

Ward Manager

Ward B2

Bassetlaw Hospital

Kilton Hill

Worksop

Notts

S81 0BD

Tel: 01909 502347

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