Looking after someone in hospital

We know that when someone is admitted to hospital it can be a very distressing and difficult time for both the person you care for as well as yourself.

We aim to treat most patients in their own home wherever possible. Sometimes if someone is particularly unwell, they will be admitted to hospital so their needs can be fully assessed, and they can receive treatment. Our wards provide a safe place where trained staff can provide specialist care.

Sometimes if someone is very unwell, they may have to be admitted to hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983. Read more on the Mental Health Act.

Admission

When your family member or friend arrives on the ward, they will be welcomed by a member of the ward team. They will be shown round and to their bedroom. Valuables should not be left on the ward. You are welcome to bring in clothes, toiletries, and any other personal items to make their stay more comfortable.

Each person admitted to our ward is assigned a Named Nurse who will be your key contact for the duration of the admission.

Your family member or friend will have someone assigned to always look after them and they will be able to answer any questions you might have. If the Named Nurse is not available when you call or visit, then another member of the team will be able to assist you.

Assessment

During the first few days following an admission several assessments will take place. This is for the clinical team to understand what support needs to be put in place to enable your family member or friend’s mental health to improve and for them to return home.

This includes a mental state examination to assess their overall mental health wellbeing, a risk assessment to ensure that they are kept safe whilst on the ward, a physical health examination which might include taking blood and urine samples and a social care assessment which looks at areas such as housing, employment, benefits, and wellbeing issues.

Visiting

Visiting hours may vary across the wards, additionally visiting guidance may change. In the first instance, please contact the ward and speak to a member of the team. You should receive information about the ward from a member of the team. A ward leaflet should be shared with you on the point of admission. If you do not receive this please ask a member of staff.

You can also find information about individual wards under Mental Health on the Oxford Health website here: www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Your involvement in care planning

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust wants to ensure you are still involved in the care of your family member or friend when they are in hospital. After an admission you should be given the opportunity to speak with a member of the ward team and discuss any concerns or issues that you have.

Each ward has regular ward rounds which give the clinical team the opportunity to discuss current treatment and progress with everyone involved. These discussions will also form the basis of the discharge plans, and if we have consent for you to be involved you are welcome to attend all these meetings.

Some of our wards offer a family surgery. The family surgery provides you with the opportunity to chat with the ward team in a safe environment and discuss your relative’s care and recovery journey.  Contact the ward to find out if it offers this and to get more information on how to book a slot.

Planning for discharge

Leaving hospital can be an important life event so it is essential our patients receive good quality discharge care. Plans around discharge should commence soon after a person’s admission and will be a part of all care planning processes.

Support available upon discharge will vary depending upon the needs and individual circumstances of each person. For some there may be no further need for support from mental health services but for others there may be a comprehensive support plan in place.

There will always be a discussion about how the patient and their family will access help if issues re-occur.

Prior to discharge a discharge planning meeting will be arranged, to include relatives and any team that will remain involved in post-discharge care. If we have consent for you to be involved, you are welcome to attend this meeting.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about an admission to our mental health wards:

Who can I talk to when my relative is on the ward?

You can call through to the ward and speak to the named nurse who is assigned to look after your relative. If they are unavailable, then you can speak with a member of the team.

If the ward offers a family surgery, you can book a one-to-one slot to chat with members of the ward team about your relative’s care and recovery journey.  This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and share any concerns you may have.

What if I have information to share about my relative when they are on the ward?

We encourage you to share any information that you feel may be relevant to your relatives’ care. You can do this by contacting the ward or booking a slot at the ward family surgery (if they have one). There may be times when we want to ask you questions about your relative too and will contact you if this is necessary.

My relative has been admitted, so now what?

Staff will complete a risk assessment and take appropriate steps to ensure your loved one feels safe on the ward.  There will then be an assessment period. The length of time this takes will varying depending upon the patient’s needs and risk.

Once the assessment is complete a treatment plan will then be agreed with the patient and a discharge date proposed – although this may change dependent upon the person’s progress and response to treatment.

Treatment can include medication, meaningful activity, assessment and planning, and lower level talking therapies.  If your relative agrees you may be invited to the ward review to give your own thoughts on progress, treatment and discharge planning. It may be that time away from hospital can be agreed at these meetings.