We spoke with six patients on the ward. They told us they were happy with the care provided. For example, one patient described the care as “top class” and another said it was “excellent.” One patient went as far as to say of the ward, “it is a model of what a hospital should be.” Patients were complimentary about the staff caring for them. One patient’s comment was typical when they said, “the staff are very considerate.” Another said, “staff come in the night whenever you need them and they never grumble.” We saw staff interacting with patients in a caring and sensitive way and responding to their needs.

Care and treatment was provided with equipment that was regularly maintained and fit for purpose. Patients were positive about the equipment available to help them with their rehabilitation. One patient said, “the gym (where physiotherapy took place) is very well equipped." Another said, “the equipment is fantastic."

Patients were supported by staff to obtain appropriate health and social care support after their discharge. Comments and complaints were responded to appropriately. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of service that people received and accurate records of care and treatment were maintained.

We carried out this unannounced inspection to check if the provider had complied with a compliance action issued at the last inspection of the service in July 2012. On that occasion we had found that medicines were not always being stored safely.

We did not speak with any patients during this inspection as our focus was on the way that medicines were being stored. We visited the intermediate care ward and reviewed the arrangements for storing medicines. We found that medicines were being stored safely.

We spoke with three of the 22 patients who were admitted to Marjorie Warren Ward on the day of our visit. We observed an activity group taking place on the ward as well as the lunchtime meal.

The patients we spoke with were all very positive about the care and treatment they had received. For example, one patient told us they had been ‘well-looked after’ by staff. Another said the care they had received on the ward was ‘marvellous’. Staff were described as ‘kind’, ‘delightful’, and ‘easy to get on with’. We saw staff speak respectfully to patients. They showed interest in patients’ welfare and were caring and sensitive in their approach. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect by staff and that call bells were always within reach.

There were effective systems in place to meet the nutritional needs of patients and protect them against the risk of infection. However, appropriate arrangements for the safe keeping of medicines were not in place. As a result patients were not adequately protected against the risks associated with the unsafe management of medicines.

We visited Marjory Warren, a 28 bedded rehabilitation ward and spoke to a number of patients. They told us they were generally happy with the standard of care provided to them by nurses and physiotherapists. Nurses were described as ‘lovely’ and ‘kind’. Patients were given sufficient information about their stay and the ward and in relation to their medication. However, some patients said the ward could be noisy at night and others suggested there could be more for them to do on the ward. We saw on some occasions that call bells to summon assistance were out of reach of patients.