Here is the plan I devised for redesigning the inside of Lomond Ward, Stratheden, so that female patients could be separate from male patients in their sleeping areas, and keep some degree of privacy.
I also proposed more activity rooms for patients and areas for psychological therapies, WRAP, Peer Support and groupwork.
I sent the plan off to senior NHS Fife managers on 17 October 2012, here is the Email:
"I have attached a rough plan of proposed changes to Lomond Ward that will improve the female patient experience and make the ward safer for them. And thereby have a positive impact on all patients. I believe that if the female patients are looked after well then everyone will be better off. I say this as a former Lomond patient, feeling very unsafe in the end dormitory overlooked by males in single rooms. I also speak from the experience of a carer who has visited the ward on many occasions over a 17yr period, since 1995, when my oldest son was an inpatient.
I have also proposed changing other rooms, to make more space for patients and staff to interact with each other, building relationships and promoting recovery. As a member of the new Fife patient safety group I wanted to make a positive, initial contribution.
Here are the main points:
- that the female sleeping area be completely separate from the male bay - one of the single rooms here could be used for 'observation' of females
- that the observation rooms could be male single rooms, the sitting room into another 2 male single rooms
- that the staff room, used to be quiet room, should go back to being a patient area, quiet room, with books, magazines, crafts, computer, OT activities
- that staff use the original rooms across from what were the observation rooms, these could be made into one room, where staff could ensure the privacy of female patients
- the ECT rooms be made into one large sitting room/TV/music room
- the group therapy room/meeting room for patient use rather than clinical meetings - for group work - WRAP, peer support, strengths/confidence building, psychological therapies
- a meeting room could be in the OT kitchen which looks a similar size
I got no response.