The Derwent Unit has three wards. Each one has a ward manager. They are:
- Oak Ward – Sharon Trott
- Sycamore Ward – Melanie Davies
- Willow Ward – Jo Foster
All the team work hard to give you quality care and keep you safe. We want you to feel hopeful about your health and wellbeing. We will help you on your journey to feeling better.
We want to make your stay comfortable. We will give you the care we would want for our own families and friends.
Your family and friends
Your family and friends are important so we will ask you if we can involve them. They can help us understand the things you like, and how to help you.
We want you and your family to know why you are here. We also want you to understand your care plan. Please tell us about your goals so we can help you.
Help us to help you
We always want to improve your care, so please tell us what we can do better.
- You can talk to our ward staff.
- During your stay, we will give you surveys to complete.
- You can send feedback via the Trust website.
- You can contact Patient Experience team. Call free: 0800 0272128 or email: dhcft.patientexperience@nhs.net.
During your stay at the Derwent Unit, you may come across some words that you havent heard before. Some of those words are listed beow.
Care co-ordinator
This is usually a community psychiatric nurse (CPN). They make sure everyone looking after you knows what is happening and that you have what you need to get well. You may already have a care co-ordinator. If not, we may ask for one if needed.
Care plan
This is a list of the treatments and support we will give you, to help you get better.
Community meeting
Every week, there is a meeting of staff and patients. This is a chance to talk about any issues on the ward. Anyone can ask for the minutes of these meetings.
Consultant
The consultant psychiatrist is an expert in mental health. They oversee the doctors and nurses looking after you. They will plan your treatment.
Leave plan or discharge plan
We will make plans if you are going on leave or are being discharged. It will have details of any treatments and support we will give you, to help you get better. This will be written down in a leave plan if you are going on leave. If you are being discharged, this will be called a discharge plan.
Named nurse
This is the main nurse who will look after you.
Multidisciplinary meeting (MDM) or ward round
At this weekly meeting you will meet the people taking care of you. We sometimes call this an MDM or a ward round.
Observation and engagement level
We will assess you. Afterwards, we will put you on Level 1, 2, 3 or 4. These levels tell us how often to check on you to keep you safe.
Occupational therapist (OT)
We sometimes call these OTs. They look at how well you can do tasks and help you meet your goals.
Reasonable adjustments
These are changes we can make to help you if you have physical health needs or a learning disability. We can also help if you are autistic. Please ask your named nurse.
Ward doctors
Doctors look after you and look at your test results. If they need to, they will ask the consultant for advice.
When you arrive at the Derwent Unit
When you come to the Derwent Unit we will hold an admission multidisciplinary meeting (MDM).
We will usually hold this in the first two days of your stay.
At this meeting you will meet some of the people who will take care of you.
These may be nurses, psychologists, doctors, occupational therapists, and community teams. Your family, friends or carers may be there too, if you wish.
This meeting is a chance for you and your care team to talk. You can ask any questions about your care.
