The following information is to help patients who are admitted to one of our mental health wards familiarise themselves with the facilities, activities, and treatments available. Family and carers may also find the information helpful.
This section tells you what you need to do to see your health records and tries to answer any questions you might have.
The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to see what has been written in your health records, subject to certain conditions. You can ask for an appointment to be made so that you can view your records.
Confidentiality
It is important to understand that everyone working in the National Health Service and Local Authorities has a legal and professional duty to ensure that all patient information is safely and securely protected.
Why do we need information?
We ask for information about you so that you can receive proper care and treatment. The information is shared with other parts of health and social care services, and other agencies involved in your care, on a strictly need to know basis.
When other agencies are involved in your care we may need to share information about you so that we can work together for your benefit. Information will only be shared if there is a real need, and where possible, we will ask for your consent.
We are required by law to report certain information about you without your consent:
- where the health and safety of others is at risk
- under special circumstances, for example if a formal court order has been issued
- when approved by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- infectious diseases which may endanger the safety of others, for example, meningitis and measles (but not HIV / Aids)
What information is held?
Apart from specific forms, we only hold information in an electronic format. When you are referred to the service you are given a unique number which is used to identify you and all health records associated with you. Examples of the information we keep are:
- your name, address, date of birth, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and who referred you
- why and how you were referred to us
- details of the treatments you have received
- medical and family history
- who is working with you
- when you are discharged and why
This information makes up your health record.
Your Health Record
The information will have been recorded by, or on behalf of a health professional involved with your care. The health record helps staff to review the care they provide to you, to make sure it is of the highest standard.
You may find that you will be encouraged to see your records on an on-going basis to help you be involved in planning your care. If this is not the case, the Access to Health Records Act provides a formal route to request access.
Who can gain access?
Applications for access to health records must be made in writing to the Health Records Manager, and can be made by any of the following:
- you, the patient
- a person authorised, in writing, to make the application on your behalf
- any person appointed by the court to manage the affairs of someone who is unable to do this for themselves
There are also rules regarding Specialist Advocacy Support enabling you or your advocate to access your health records under the Care Act, the Mental Capacity Act, and the Mental Health Act. A Specialist Advocate is a person who can support you to ensure you have the right information you need to make the right choices, and to help you speak up and be heard.
Is there a charge to access records?
There is no charge to view your records if you have been a patient in the last forty days.
If you would like a permanent copy of your records, the maximum cost is £10.
Can anyone be refused access?
Yes, all or some of the records may not be made available because:
- you, the patient, have requested or expected that the information would not be made available to another person
- where it is not in your best interests
- where another person, other than you or the health professional, could be identified
How does the application work?
An application to access your health records can be made through a paper form, or online via our Access Request Portal.
You will be asked to complete a form, which will then be checked to ensure that you are allowed access to your health record.
The health professional caring for you is then written to, asking for their permission to release the notes. They will then decide whether access is granted, and will ensure that any terminology is explained.
Access will be granted within 40 days of us receiving your fee for any copies requested. Where an appointment to view is requested, this will normally take place within 21 days.
If access is withheld, you or your representative will be notified.
What if something is wrong?
If you think that your records are inaccurate, ask the record holder to correct them. They must make amendments or attach a statement from you. You have a right to apply to the court for corrections of inaccurate information in your records.
Any benefit payments you receive might be affected by your admittance to hospital.
The information below may help you determine what changes affect you, and what number to call for further advice.
Attendance Allowance
You will probably keep getting Attendance Allowance when you first come into hospital, and for up to 2 weeks.
You will probably stop getting Attendance Allowance 4 weeks after you come into hospital. Someone from the hospital will tell the Department of Work and Pensions.
For further information please telephone 0800 731 0122
Carers Allowance
If your Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance stop, then your Carers Allowance will also stop.
If you do not receive Attendance Allowance nor Disability Living Allowance, your Carers Allowance will probably stop 12 weeks after being admitted into hospital. Someone from the hospital will tell the Department of Work and Pensions.
For further information please telephone 0800 731 0297
Personal Independence
You will stop getting Personal Independence Payment 4 weeks after you come into hospital. Someone from the hospital will tell Personal Independence Payments.
For further information please telephone 0800 917 2222
Disability Living Allowance
You will probably stop getting Disability Living Allowance 4 weeks after you come into hospital. Someone from the hospital will tell Disability Living Allowance Department.
For further information please telephone 0800 121 4600
Employment and Support Allowance
Unlikely to change for up to 52 weeks after being admitted into hospital. Someone from the hospital will give you sick notes to prove you are in hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 055 6688
Universal Credit
You will probably keep getting Universal Credit when you first come into hospital. Someone from the hospital will give you sick notes to prove you are in hospital.
You will probably keep getting Universal Credit 52 weeks after you come into hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 328 5644
Jobseekers Allowance
You will probably keep getting Jobseekers Allowance when you are first in hospital. Someone from the hospital can give you a sick note to prove you are in hospital. You can get Jobseekers Allowance for 13 weeks while you are sick.
You will have to change to Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance if your stay in hospital exceeds 13 weeks.
For further information please telephone 0800 055 6688
Income Support
You will probably keep getting Income Support 12 weeks after you come into hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 055 6688
Pension Credit
Your Pension Credit may be affected when you first come into hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 99 1234
State Pension
Your State Pension may be affected when you first come into hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 731 0469
War Pension
Your War Pension may be affected when you first come into hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 169 2277
War Widows / Widowers Pension
Your War Widows / Widowers Pension may be affected when you first come into hospital.
For further information please telephone 0800 169 2277
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
You will keep getting Housing and Council Tax Benefit when you first come into hospital.
You must tell the Housing Benefits Department if they have to start paying your landlord directly after you have been in hospital for 2 weeks.
You will keep getting Housing and Council Tax Benefit 12 weeks after you come into hospital. Tell the Council if you need them to send your letters to the hospital.
You will stop getting Housing and Council Tax Benefit 52 weeks after you come into hospital.
You should contact your local Council for advice and information.
Working Tax Credits
Your Working Tax Credits will be affected when you first come into hospital because you cannot work.
For further information please telephone 0345 300 3900
Landlords
You must tell your landlord if changes to your benefits affect your rent after you have been in hospital for 2 weeks.
Tell your landlord if you are planning to return home 4 weeks after you come to hospital. If you don’t tell your landlord they may think you are not going to return home.
You will not be able to get Housing Benefit 52 weeks after you come into hospital.
Restricted Items
These items, whilst permitted within the ward, should only be managed and safely stored by staff on the ward. Decisions regarding whether individual service users are allowed access to certain items will be made by the Nurse in Charge or the service users Multi-Disciplinary Team. In some circumstances these items will not be retained in the possession of the service user after use. All items intended for the use of service users must be handed to the Nurse in Charge on admission and stored in the locker allocated to that bedroom or patients estates.
- Disposable cigarette lighters
- Toiletries
- Aerosols
- Razors
- Glass makeup containers
- Identity documents
- Bank cards
- Items of stationery
- Cutlery
- Tinned foods
- Glassware
- Energy drinks or caffeinated drinks
Prohibited Items
Prohibited Items are not permitted on the ward and these items must be given to the staff on admission, or given to your nearest relative to look after while you are staying on the ward.
- Medication and prescribed creams
- Items used as weapons
- Fire hazard items (flammable liquids, matches, incense)
- Pornographic material
- Clingfilm
- Foil
- Chewing gum
- Blue tack
- Plastic bags
- Rope
- Metal clothes hangers
- Material that incites violence or racial, cultural, religious, gender hatred
- Laser pens
- Animals
- Alcohol
- Illegal substances
We have an employment support service known as "Step On".
The service aims to help patients living in Staffordshire, who want to work, find the right work for them.
Step On will work with you to find paid work and stay in work by using the Individual Placement and Support model (IPS), which relies upon patients deciding when they are ready to consider paid work. The model relies on close collaboration between the clinician and Employment Specialist to work together to support the patient to attain their employment goal.
The IPS model is an evidence-based, NICE endorsed, intervention and part of the NHS Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.
Step On will help anyone who expresses a desire to work, regardless of job readiness factors, substance abuse, symptoms, history, cognition impairment, treatment non-adherence or personal presentation. Step On will rapidly help the person to look for jobs soon after entering the programme instead of requiring extensive pre-employment assessment and training.
If you are interested in joining the Step On programme please speak to a member of staff.
Patients are welcome to bring in their own snacks, crisps, fruits, chocolate, pot noodles etc.
No glass containers or energy / alcoholic drinks.
We unfortunately cannot allow patients to use staff microwave so home cooked meals cannot be reheated.
Meal times are the same on all Acute Adult wards:
Breakfast
Help yourself from the kitchen
Lunch
Served 12:00 to 1:00pm
Tea
Served 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Occupational Therapists (OTs) work as part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) on the wards.
Occupational Therapy supports with:
- maintaining and increasing everyday skills
- maintaining a balanced lifestyle
- developing coping strategies for everyday skills
- providing purposeful and meaningful activities for a balanced lifestyle
If you have any questions about Occupational Therapy please ask a member of staff.
How can Occupational Therapy help me?
Personal and Domestic Activities
Employment
OTs can advise and assist service users to return to employment (paid or voluntary) or education e.g. college.
Leisure
OTs can encourage and motivate service users to engage in leisure pursuits and develop new interests.
Home Visits
OTs can carry out home visits to assess service users' abilities in their own home environment. This can be useful for discharge planning and home leave.
Group Work
OTs and other staff also carry out groups on the ward. A timetable of groups will be on display in the ward. All interventions are evidence-based.
Examples of therapy sessions
- Cooking skills, food shopping skills.
- Leisure interests, including baking, sport, art.
- Coping strategies to engage in the community.
- Budgeting, skills for independent living.
- Studying, employability advice.
Psychologists work with people who are experiencing difficulties in their life and would like some help in coping with them.
Psychologists do not prescribe medication, they help by listening carefully and trying to help you make sense of your difficulties.
They study the human mind and behaviour: how we think, feel, act, and interact individually and in groups.
Psychologists work with people on a one-to-one basis as well as delivering group programmes. They may also work indirectly by supporting other staff engaged with the patient.
Clinical psychologists can help with:
- anxiety
- low mood
- traumatic events
- sleep difficulties
- problems with anger or assertiveness
- relationship difficulties
- phobias
- worries or concerns
- coping with treatment
- stress management
- unusual thoughts or experiences
Seeing a psychologist could help with finding new ways of coping and with learning some new skills to help do this. Psychologists can also meet with carers, if you feel that would be beneficial.
Consent and Confidentiality
The Psychologist will usually only see you if you have given your permission (consent). You can opt out of seeing them at any time. Anything you say is treated with the strictest confidence and will only be shared with other members of the clinical team, and with other people involved in your healthcare (such as your Community Psychiatric Nurse or GP).
The only exception to this would be if the team believed that there was a significant risk you would seriously harm yourself or others, or information was obtained about possible harm to vulnerable people, such as children.
How to contact psychology
You can directly approach the psychology team member working on your ward, or you can ask any other member of the ward staff to refer you to the psychologist.
It may not always be possible to be seen immediately.
The psychology service is delivered between Monday and Friday.
Patient safety is at the heart of the care we provide. Sometimes though, staff may have to use a Restrictive Intervention to maintain the safety of patients and staff. This may include physically holding you, seclusion, long-term segregation, or using medication to help manage your behaviour.
The model we use to support the use of any Restrictive Interventions is known as De-escalation, Management and Intervention (DMI)
The training of this model is delivered to all staff by in-house trainers who have lots of experience of working on the wards within MPFT.
We believe that patients should be able to access as much information as they can about all aspects of their care, including physical intervention.
The DMI model encourages patients and staff to discuss this topic as openly and honestly as possible. Patients are encouraged to be a part of the safety planning process as much as possible if physical interventions are to be used.
What is De-escalation, Management and Intervention (DMI)
It is a model used for the management of non-physical and physical assault and challenging behaviour in mental health and learning disability care services.
Challenging behaviour can be that people harm themselves, harm others, or damage property. This type of behaviour can be for lots of different reasons, mental ill-health, frustration, being upset and angry, scared, or personal circumstances.
The model tries to involve patients as much as possible when managing their behaviour. This means having discussions with staff and pre-planning any sort of Restrictive Intervention. For example:
- let me go to a quieter area of the ward
- if I have to be held, do this in a seated position
- if I have to have medication administered I will stand up to take oral medication
We understand that at times people do get angry and upset and that these emotions need to be vented, but we also recognise when this is becoming unsafe for everyone else, and a physical intervention may have to be used.
So how does DMI work?
It works by looking at how, when, and why behaviours escalate.
So for example:
- what makes you angry?
- how does your illness make you think and act?
- what do you experience when you are unwell and how does this impact on your coping mechanisms?
- what can I do to manage my behaviours and keep myself and others safe?
- what can the staff do to help me manage my behaviours and keep everyone safe?
By exploring and asking these types of questions and looking at solutions we can hopefully reduce the risk of actions and behaviours escalating. Both staff and patients can put in place coping mechanisms early, avoiding any sort of physical intervention.
DMI should be used:
- as a planned response
- in a least restrictive way
- within the boundaries of law:
- Health and Safety at Work Act
- Mental Health Act
- Mental Capacity Act
- Human Rights Act
- Policies and Procedures of MPFT NHS Foundation Trust
When is a Restrictive Intervention used?
The decision to use any form of Restrictive Intervention is not an easy decision to make.
Staff would use Restrictive Interventions when there is a clear and apparent risk to everyone present and all other options have been exhausted (talking, negotiating, etc...)
If Restrictive Interventions have to be used then it will be used in a way that is least restrictive, preferably planned and used at a level appropriate to the risk being presented.
What happens after a Restrictive Intervention is used?
Staff will follow all the policies and procedures after a Restrictive Intervention has been used.
A discussion should also take place with you to discuss what happened and explore the reasons why. This is very useful to look at planning any possible future interventions:
- could we do things differently
- what are your wishes
- what could you do differently i.e. speak to staff earlier, utilise other coping mechanisms or distraction. This is called an Advance Statement and is a way of recording your wishes.