Enter and View Report - The Care of Older People in four Wards of the Royal Sussex County Hospital

The purpose of the visit

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove and Healthwatch East Sussex jointly carried out this visit to meet the following aims:

• To gather feedback from patients and staff at a range of wards which look after older people at Royal Sussex County Hospital
• To develop knowledge of good care provision and gain a better understanding about the main issues faced in these wards
• To share any observations or good practice we found

Summary of Findings 

• 36% of patients across the four locations we visited were medically fit to leave hospital, but were unable to, largely due to social care packages not yet being in place. All patients on the extra capacity ward ‘Overton’ were waiting to be discharged.
• According to staff, 63% of patients in the Acute Medical Unit were inappropriately placed there and staff estimate the average age of patients to be 85.
• Staff reported understaffing that sometimes compromised their ability to give comprehensive care, particularly one-to-one support, and care for people with dementia.
• The wards visited were not routinely giving patients all the discharge information they needed, specifically the hospital’s discharge booklet. This confirms recent findings by Healthwatch Brighton and Hove5 and similar research by Healthwatch East Sussex.
• Based on observations, staff could be using assessments under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA) to better effect on the wards.
• Overall and across all wards, staff demonstrated a caring attitude and attention to their patients, particularly during mealtimes. There are many examples of best practice to be shared within the hospital.