Archived: Milford Specialist Rehabilitation Hospital

During this inspection we were supported by two experts by experience.

The view of the overwhelming majority of people we spoke with was that this hospital provided compassionate care to people and safely assisted them towards discharge home or to other care settings. One person commented that 'Staff always ask me if I will take my medication, or if I want a shower" They never just start to do anything without asking me.". Another person's comments summed up the views of others when they said 'I'm wonderfully looked after here, they can't do enough for me, just so kind'

However, the majority of people who used the service, their relatives and staff all concluded that apart from the set therapies and the few small groups that ran there was little to occupy people during the day. Comments from relatives/visitors included 'X is getting bored" and 'There is nothing for my friend to do'. One other relative said "There's nothing social going on here and from what I can see x is bored a lot of the time'.

We found that suitable equipment that had been well maintained was available and in use.

We found that staff had been safely recruited because appropriate checks had been completed before staff started to work.

We found that the provider had an effective system for monitoring the service and they had asked both people for their views.

The provider sent us their action plan which addressed how and by when they would become compliant with the required standards.

This inspection on the 27 December 2012 was for the purpose of following up on whether the provider had achieved compliance with these two essential standards.

We did not, on this occasion, speak to people who used the service as their feedback would not have related directly to the essential standards we were reviewing.

We spoke to four people and three visiting relatives. One person remembered being asked to sign to say they consented to their care and treatment. Three people did not think they had been asked for their consent or they were unable to remember.

We reviewed the care records for eight people and these demonstrated that people had been asked to give their consent to their plan of care and treatment. The relatives we spoke with said they were pleased with the care and that staff kept them informed about their family members progress.

People said they were cared for in privacy and the staff respected them and maintained their dignity.

Our observations confirmed that, apart from witnessing one public consultation by a doctor, other staff were careful and considerate in maintaining people's privacy and dignity.