Social visitor event at Rampton Hospital
Blog by Emma Routen (Family and Volunteer Support Worker, Rampton Hospital)
Rampton Hospital’s Family and Volunteer Support Service (FVSS) hosts four social visitor event days per year.
These successful events always have a theme and are designed to give carers further information about the hospital, an opportunity to meet staff working within the various departments and a chance to meet others who like themselves are in the unique role of caring for a loved one in a high secure hospital.
This year the hospital has already ran carer involvement workshops with our relational security team, carer health and well-being checks, management drop-in surgeries, arts and therapies sessions, presentations from senior leadership at the hospital and our also our trust Chairman.
The event on Saturday 9th September saw our Therapies & Education (TES) and Physical Healthcare Services shine a light on their departments and offer carers a tour of their facilities within the hospital. This tour was offered to carers that are newly involved with Rampton and haven’t had the opportunity to see the hospital and what facilities are on offer. Starting off in the recreational hall our carers had the opportunity for a quick chat with each other, introduction to the staff running the tours and importantly hydration, on what was to be the hottest day of the year so far!!! Delivering the tours were Kay Carley – Occupational Therapy professional lead and Claire Thurlow – Peaks Day Unit Team Leader.
Carers were shown the patient library, Assessment centre with it’s new in development stages digital suite, education department and classrooms, Graphics and Woodwork areas with brand new graphic design hub, Westfields outdoor track, trade skills, Chapel and multi faith room, Horticulture area and a quick break from the sun within the soon to be finished well-being café. Ian Wilkes, Sports & Fitness lead then gave a tour of the main health & fitness areas within the hospital showing the carers the main gym, sports hall, and Swimming pool (which we all fancied jumping in!)
Rob Furby our Physical Healthcare head of service and lead nurse Vicky enjoyed taking the carers around the Healthcare Centre covering the GP facilities and treatment rooms, Opticians, Physiotherapy suite, Dentist and specially designed waiting rooms which are adaptable with adjustable lights, loop system. Carers were also shown the urgent care facilities and given the good news that this will soon be a 24-hour service.
The day ended with a shared buffet lunch and a chance to just chat and ask any questions that arose from the tours.
Feedback from those that attended the event has been very encouraging.
- ‘Everyone was very helpful and supportive. It was great to meet other carers and have face to face chats.
- ‘It was reassuring to see the healthcare facilities available’.
- ‘I really enjoyed this carers day it was great to see the different areas that my child can access, and the obvious care given by all staff in all departments’.
- ‘Thanks for all the support given. I was really impressed with the facilities available’.
- ‘Very helpful and informative’
- ‘Physical healthcare unit is very impressive’.
Now on to planning the next one our very popular Winter Social event in December, the focused being ‘The Role of the Responsible Clinician (RC), Psychology and Psychiatry’.