Delight as mental health ward recognised for great care
A hospital ward in Northampton, which cares for men with mental health challenges and helps them with their recovery, has once again been recognised nationally for its outstanding care.
The Meadowbank ward at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Berrywood Hospital in Northampton, has retained its prestigious accreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which said it was highly “impressed with the practices” at the ward.
The accreditation, which is part of the Quality Network for Mental Health Rehabilitation Services, was first awarded to Meadowbank ward in May 2017, and recognises good practice and high-quality care across the UK.
As part of the reassessment, the accreditation team hears from staff, service users and carers in a comprehensive process which includes peer support visits from others working in similar teams to provide advice on how to meet challenges and improve services.
Meadowbank is a 12 bed, 24 hour, seven days a week, recovery unit for adult males. It provides care to help re-integrate people back into the community to regain a meaningful life. The team (pictured above) helps patients understand their diagnosis, and works with them to prevent relapses to help patients support themselves once they are discharged.
Elizabeth Olanrewaju, Meadowbank Ward Manager, said: “Well done team Meadowbank; I am so proud of this accomplishment. This is just the starting point for the next review in 2025. We will remain focussed in our goal to continue to deliver high standards of care. On behalf of myself and the senior leadership team, we say thank you and congratulations!”
Meadowbank ward, which has recently been redecorated, takes a proactive approach to encouraging structured individual and group activities and has developed excellent links to outside agencies to promote voluntary, employment, and leisure opportunities. Patients have also benefited from garden space and helped with maintenance and landscaping; they can also use gym and woodwork, equipment, as well as take part in social activities like gaming.
Unnati Pathak, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The Accreditation Committee would like to offer their congratulations to the team for achieving the status of accredited. The project team were clearly impressed with the practices at your service and the quality and conciseness of your responses was excellent. The Accreditation Committee also commented on the detail you provided in the interim was very impressive and congratulate your ward.”
Find out more about Meadowbank ward at www.nhft.nhs.uk/adult-inpatient-specialist