15 February 2011
During a routine inspection
There were opportunities for people to express their views on how the service is run and they were given opportunities to express their preferences especially regarding choices in daily living and what food they ate. We talked to many people during our visit and some said that although they were not always aware of the formal complaints processes, they did feel able to raise with staff any concerns that they had.
Patients told us that they felt secure and safe in the hospital, with kind and attentive staff. They told us that they were always treated with dignity and respect and did not know of anyone that had been badly treated. People we spoke to told us that staff never hurried them and although some had only been accommodated at Arundel and District Community Hospital for a very short time they generally found the staff helpful, kind and with good sense of humour. We were told that 'It's very good for a hospital' and 'they are wonderful, caring staff who works well as a team'. We saw many examples of thank you letters which had been received by staff from patients and relatives. In particular we noted that one gentleman had said in his letter of thanks 'looking after an incontinent old man in his mid 80's cannot be the best occupation, but the men and ladies at Arundel Hospital manage it so well and with a smile'.