Woodhorn – Patient Information Leaflet

This leaflet provides you with information that you will find useful during your stay. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of staff on the ward.

Most older people with mental health needs will receive assessment, treatment and care in their own home. However, for a small number of people admission to hospital will be appropriate.

Inpatient Services for older people provide specialist mental health assessment and treatment in hospital for two main groups:
• Functional mental health – conditions such as depression, anxiety or psychosis
• Organic mental health – for progressive conditions such as dementia

Woodhorn is an inpatient unit, which treats people with organic mental health conditions. The ward is based at St Georges Park, Morpeth, Northumberland.

You have come into hospital because you have mental health needs that require support from a range of specialist doctors, nurses and other health care workers. To enable the right support to be organised to meet your needs, it is important everyone understands exactly what your needs are and what will help you. We aim to work together with you and your family/carer to help you manage your needs so that you can move forward in your life with the support you require in the most acceptable way for you.

This is the assessment process and staff will seek your consent on/and involvement in all aspects of your care plan throughout your stay in hospital.

During your stay in hospital you will have a named nurse who will be responsible for co-ordinating your care. If your named nurse is not on duty you will have access to any of the nursing team.

You will be given the name of your named nurse within 24 hours of your admission. They will introduce themselves to you as soon as they are next on duty. However everyday there is a nurse in charge who is a point of contact; this information is displayed on a board on the ward corridor near the office.

There is a lot of evidence that shows you can gain a great deal by participating in the right activities that are designed to meet your needs. There are a range of therapeutic activities available to you while you are in hospital which will be discussed individually with you.
All nursing staff on Woodhorn wear hospital uniform.

How long you stay in hospital depends on your needs. However, the care team will discuss discharge with you and your family/carer as quickly as possible after your admission. It is important to emphasise you will not remain in hospital any longer than you need to. We aim to keep your time spent in hospital to a minimum.

We value information from family and friends to help with assessment and treatment. We will involve your family and friends as much as possible with your permission and aim to support them as much as we can. Carers are entitled to an assessment of their own needs if necessary. At the entrance to the ward there is a selection of information leaflets for carers.

The point at which you are ready to leave the ward will be a significant milestone. You may still need some help and support, which will be discussed with you before you are discharged and a copy of these arrangements (your discharge care plan) will be given to you and your carers.

Inpatient areas operate protected mealtimes. This means you have the right to enjoy mealtimes without unnecessary disruption. Further detail is available on the ward.

Woodhorn visiting times are flexible but we would ask that you don’t visit during mealtimes:
Breakfast 8am – 9.30am
Lunch 11.45am – 1pm
Dinner 4.15pm – 5.15pm
Supper 8pm – 9pm

The Ward has a pay phone for use on the ward – telephone number is 01670 512 847. Mobile phones are permitted on the ward but we ask they are not used in communal areas

Within 24 hours of admission, you and your carer will be given more detailed information about your hospital stay and an opportunity to discuss any further information needs you may have. Please ask any member of staff for information.

Staff can arrange an interpreter if you need one.

Advocacy services are available to people admitted to Woodhorn Ward. Please ask staff for details.

By Bus
St George’s Park is less than a mile from Morpeth bus station, but the walk is uphill. Taxis are available in the town centre.

There is a bus service from Morpeth bus station to St George’s Park.
Morpeth bus station 08.25, 09.20, 10.20, 12.25, 14.25, 16.25, 17.25
St Georges Park Hospital 08.30, 09.25, 10.25, 12.30, 14.30, 16.30, 17.30

Contact Traveline: Tel: 0871 200 22 33
Website: www.traveline.info/

By Train
The railway station is just under one and half miles from St George’s Park and there is an uphill walk. There are usually taxis available at the station.

By Car
Parking is available at St George’s Park via pay and display with spaces near the main entrance and Woodhorn Ward.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk (click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab)
• telephone the Complaints Department 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected] Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk
• We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.
Contact Nexus Traveline: Tel: 0871 200 22 33

Website: www.traveline.info/

You can provide feedback in the following ways:
– the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/poy
– complete a Points of You survey, available from staff.

• PALS – Patient Advice and Liaison Service
Provides information and advice about local NHS services and support organisations and helps sort out any problems with NHS services.
North of Tyne Tel: 0800 032 0202
Text 07815 500015

• Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 0191 246 6800
Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk
,
• The Alzheimer’s Society
Tel: 0300 222 11 22 (Mon-Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs and Fri 9am-5pm, Sat and Sun 10am-4pm)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

• Age UK
Tel: 0800 169 6565 (Mon-Sun, 8am-7pm)
Website: www.ageuk.org.uk

• Living well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy, Department of Health 2009

Woodhorn Ward
St George’s Park
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2NU
Tel: 01670 501 876
email: [email protected]

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2023 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/497/0123 January 2023 V6

www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2026