"I think time with patients is limited by the staff to patient ratio on ward B50"

Unfortunately this is one of those issues that is beyond the control of the ward manager.

A service review was conducted some months ago to look at equality of provision across the directorate and unfortunately this for us this involved a reduction in provision of allied health professionals including physio services; it resulted in loss of activities and one to one work with patients.

The ward team strives to continue a programme of individualised assessment and activity and also shared activity including with our activity co-ordinator some more social type of provision for patients, but it is always going to be more limited than previously. Perhaps if patients continue to comment and express their needs and wishes through the site it would be helpful in building a case to help restore lost services?

Thank you for your posting

Helen Forrester

Ward Manager B50 QMC

I am pleased patients are raising concerns on the site around this issue. I wanted to respond again to make patients aware that allied health professional time will in the short term be affected adversely by the recent resignation of our Activity Coordinator. Myself and the manager of A23 are looking to appoint someone temporarily on a secondment until we get the ‘go ahead’ to recruit.

We will do our best in the mean time to provide activities, but provision will be limited, for which we apologise.

Helen Forrester

Ward Manager B50 QMC

I would like to update my response to you, to let you know that the Ward Manager of A23 and myself have recently appointed someone into a secondment to cover the vacant position of Activity Coordinator. The person appointed is well known to all on B50 where she worked as a Health Care Assistant. She has been in post for nearly 3 weeks and has already set up various activities and a breakfast club, Things seem to be going well. What do you think? If there is anything that you or your fellow patients would like to see on the programme, please speak with us and we will try and provide it.

At a recent patients meeting, patients requested that Pastor Sam come back to play his accordion and he was delighted to oblige and our monthly buffets were asked for every week! We have asked the catering department to provide them on a Sunday and will start from the 4th December all being well.

Thank you to all our patients for your continued comments, suggestions and ideas to improve our service. Keep them coming ; it’s a pleasure to make changes that help in your experience of the ward and your recovery.

Helen Forrester

Ward Manager B50