"In Brocklehurst Ward, be assured that you will be..."

What I liked

Spending time in a psychiatric ward is never an appealing prospect. With that in mind, I would like to say that my recent 10-day visit to Brocklehurst Ward, Priority House, in Maidstone Hospital was an excellent and most enjoyable time.

ENVIRONMENT

The individual rooms with showers were kept beautifully clean, as were all of the dayroom areas. The corridors and dayrooms had glorious works of art on the wall.

WORKING TOGETHER

There was much evidence of clear teamwork amongst the ward staff. Information which had to be passed on to the next shift was always clear. The ward dispensary was handled with great clarity towards patients. The staff had to work together on a number of occasions to care for sudden arrivals with varying conditions and it was clear that the staff knew exactly what they were doing. Impressive.

TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT

I was most impressed of all by the thoroughness of delivered paper Care Plan, and other instructions which referred back to ward documentation. Alongside that efficient process was the fact that the staff cared for me in a pleasant, everyday way... but that they went further and gained access by me to another ward's dayroom piano. These sort of things when you are away from home are worth their weight in gold.

DECISIONS ABOUT MY CARE

Decisions about choice of medication were always explained very clearly and I had no reason to contest these decisions. When I complained about having a very stiff neck, the staff rallied round to ask two doctors to have a look at my neck, and advise. I always felt consulted about medication on this ward.

SAME-SEX ACCOMMODATION

This was clearly in place with male wards and female wards.

What could be improved

For the type of institution this ward is, I suppose I'd have to say more storage room for the office staff... although I am a realist and that will not come off... Perhaps a different queuing system in the dining hall... I really have to say that this ward couldn't be improved, in my opinion.

Anything else?

I was very pleased indeed with my time on the ward.

I would like to say that the patient handbook was of a very high standard and made lits of things crystal clear, including guidelines on laptops and phones.

I also found the corridor display in glass/plastic cabinets was first class. As a patient, I had to wait for medecine, etc. in the main corridors andI found out so much from them.

If - please God, no - I have to go into this ward in the future, I shall feel totally comfortable about doing so.