What We Found
Our staff and volunteers regularly visit health and social care settings, such as care homes, primary care settings and more.
We speak to service users and observe services at the point of delivery. Below you can see some highlights from our previous visits.
If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer and visiting settings, please email volunteer@healthwatchsolihull.org.uk
Services visited
Date last visited: March 2022
Staff/Volunteers in attendance:
G.Best
J.Newman
G.Whittingham
Residents told us:
I have no worries, I’m happy here
The carers here listen to me
I enjoy the games
I like the breakfast, but I don’t like the dinners
‘Staff at the QE hospital were really good, however I didn’t hear back about my physio appointment’.
‘I’m happy with the doctor who visits the home’
Staff told us:
‘We have a good doctor who visits the home (Dr Katecha from Grove Road surgery), he’s very friendly and he has been coming here for years’.
Some observations:
Two staff were writing in folders and didn’t seem to notice a resident struggling to get out of their seat to go to the toilet. A third member of staff came along in time to assist the resident.
Some residents were enjoying the game, but some were not engaged at all.
Date last visited: March 2022
Staff/Volunteers in attendance:
G.Best
N.Travers
Residents told us:
‘The staff are marvellous; I get on well with them’.
‘It can be noisy in the corridors on the night-time’.
‘My favourite thing about the home is the feeling everyone has towards each other and of course the food is great’.
‘I need to see a doctor, but I haven’t seen one. It has been over a week’.
Staff told us:
‘We have weekly contact with the doctor (from Croft Medical Practice) over the telephone. We identify which residents need to be seen and they assess them over video call/photo on NHS portal and then they will come out for a visit only if they feel it is necessary. Pre-covid there were weekly GP visits to the home.’
‘We have support from the pharmacy lead with prescriptions for monthly medication changeovers.’
‘We also have the support of lovely Community Matrons.’
Some observations:
The residents were upbeat and all in the room were involved in the musical activity.
There were lots of homely touches such as the hand painted wall designs, a bar area and pets in the shared areas.
Date last visited: March 2022
Staff/Volunteers in attendance:
G.Best
G.Whittingham
Residents told us:
‘The care here is good, I’m happy with the care home’
‘You can’t grumble, if they do they must be a real moaner as it’s absolutely great here’.
‘It’s a nice home, nice staff, nice and clean, very helpful, you couldn’t wish for better’.
‘The DR’s are OK, the one’s I’ve had are OK’.
‘If we’ve got a problem the staff will help, we can see a doctor’.
Staff told us:
‘The GP visits twice a week (Dr Webb from GPS- Knowle Surgery). Residents are booked in to visit Knowle dentist when required. We haven’t had any problems accessing healthcare services when needed.’
Some observations:
The staff were very attentive, noticed 2 residents struggling to stand and both were assisted swiftly. Residents were keen to speak to us and tell us how well they feel they are looked after here and none of the residents or staff we spoke to felt there were any issues with accessing healthcare services when required.
Date last visited: March 2022
Staff/Volunteers in attendance:
G.Best
J.Moore
Residents told us:
‘I am happy here’.
‘I’ve got all my things, a TV, books, computer- everything I need’.
‘The food is lovely’.
Staff told us:
‘We have struggled to access some NHS appointments throughout the whole pandemic, letters about referrals stopped’.
A problem staff have identified is that at the hospital some of the staff seem to have a lack of awareness of learning difficulties. This can be very difficult for our clients if they are left waiting around.
‘Weekly doctor calls on the phone worked well for our clients’.
‘Video calls for psychiatrist appointments were good, we would like that to continue as it was less disruptive for our clients, and suited better to be seen in their own environment’.
Some observations:
Residents were keen to speak to us and tell us how nice the food was here. They wanted to talk about COVID restrictions and were very aware around safeguarding, having a chat with us about who they could complain to or speak with if they needed to. They said they didn’t have any issues, but they were glad we were there to see how they were.