We spoke with seven patients and one carer on the two wards we inspected. Patients told us “All of the staff are lovely”, “The staff are marvellous, I have no complaints”, “Staff are second to none”, “Staff have organised a lot of backup for me when I go home”, “Staff are organising a review meeting for me”.

Patients told us that their treatment, care and support needs were being appropriately met. They told us they were properly consulted and enabled to participate in the planning and review of their care.

Patients were supported by a multi-disciplinary team which included: a consultant psychiatrist and a psychologist, registered mental health nurses, occupational therapist and experienced care support workers. We spoke with ten staff on the wards including occupational therapists, consultants, nursing staff and students.

Staff told us “All therapies carried out on the ward are good. It’s a good place to work and a good team. There is a sense of achievement when someone is discharged”. Another member of staff told us “There is a great deal of group work and we get everyone totally involved”.

Those patients that were present on the ward at the time of our visit chose not to speak to us. However, we were able to observe patients within the ward setting and saw how staff interacted with them.

We spoke with four patients when we visited, Ward 3, Newsam Centre.

Some patients were satisfied with the care, treatment and support they received at the hospital. They said they had care plans and were able to attend review meetings with advocates to support them. They told us:

“I have a care plan and health care plans.”

“I have a care plan and I reckon staff are following it.”

“I have meetings with the doctors and nurses and I’ve got an advocate.”

Patients told us they attended daily community meetings with staff where their daily activities and leave could be organised. Patients said they had access to meaningful activities and said:

“I do art, poetry and ten pin bowling.”

“I have some friends here and I like playing the DS (computer game)”.

These patients told us they had developed good relationships with staff, had many meaningful activities to do and felt they were making progress.

Other patients told us they did not get on with or feel adequately supported by some staff. They told us they had been bullied by another patient and did not always feel safe.

“I might have a care plan, but not sure. I don’t know what’s in it.” In addition, “Sometimes I don’t get support from staff; I’m left to do my own thing.” They went on to say, “I don’t like it here, I preferred where I was before.”

A patient said, “When I first moved here I was bullied by other patients, this went on for six months, I was called names, they would `bang’ (speak disrespectfully about) my family”.

Some patients complained they did not like the food available on the unit. One patient said, “I eat take-away food or go to my mums.” Another patient told us, “Food is not very tasty.” Patients said staff would only allow them to order take away meals on Friday and Saturday nights.

Patients told us about restrictions placed on them by staff, which included smoking. This was limited to one cigarette per hour. One patient told us, “We have cigarettes on the hour. When it is meal times, we have cigarettes at quarter past the hour. If you are a slow eater and have not finished by quarter past then you have a choice of whether you have your meal or a cigarette.”