"Ward A11"

Thank you very much for taking the time to give us this valuable feedback, it really helps to improve the service we provide.

Things to do

I see that you are unhappy with the lack of things to do on the ward. Whilst ward A11 is an acute medical ward, and a large number of our patients are medically very unwell, there are some patients, possibly like yourself, who are medically improving and potentially either working with the therapists, or awaiting carers for going home, and it seems that we could be doing better at keeping this group stimulated and engaged whilst you are with us.

This has been a bit of a recurring theme recently and I am glad we have identified it. I am currently working with some of my colleagues on a project to help assist some of the more well service users to get off the ward for a short time with a family member and a colleague from the carer's centre.

We have also ordered some comfortable chairs for an area of the ward that I am hoping will be used more frequently for activities and eating meals more socially. It is a work in progress, and we are listening, so your feedback is important to justify and drive the changes that we are making and we are grateful.

Other patients

I'm glad that the other patients have kept you occupied in the meantime.

Just an update on our planned change regarding a lack of things to do on the ward -

We had our initial trial run of our new project last week, whereby we have been assisting patients and their carers to leave the ward environment for a short time and get, at best, outside for some fresh air and a tea or coffee, but at least down to the WRVS café. We have been working on this project for some time with the help of the Falkirk Carer's Centre and the Forestry Commission (for the good weather days), and aim to continue to support this once a week.

We would hope that our patients who make use of this project will benefit both from a change in scenery, and from the wealth of information and support that our colleague in the Carer's Centre has to offer.

We have updated our activities box with brand new books and photographs, and have invested in some activities tailored specifically towards people with dementia.

We have spent some time and energy in making our relative's room seem less clinical and it is now some way towards being a comfortable area which can be used by both patients and relatives, with new couches and facilities for tea and coffee.

I would like to thank you again for taking the time to give us feedback as it is already contributing towards changes on the ward for the next patients coming through.