Family distressed by lack of patient showering facilities in Grangewood

Concern has been raised about the lack of patient showering facilities in the Grangewood unit, an acute mental health inpatient facility, in Gransha Park in the Waterside.

Derry Now has been contacted by a family member of a patient recently admitted to the unit who had been unable to shower for 12 days.

Explaining the “distressing” situation they said: “My [family member] was admitted to Grangewood and was unable to take a shower because there was no chair provided in the shower and there was no handrail.

“They are able to shower independently but can not do so standing up. They would require a chair to sit on during the shower.

“Over the first 10 days of their admission, I spoke to seven individual members of Grangewood staff, on the phone and in person during visiting time, about the fact my [family member] wanted to have a shower but was unable to do so because they required a chair to sit on and none had been provided.

“It just did not work. I got absolutely nowhere. It was quite distressing. What really annoyed me was, after 10 days, when I spoke to a member of the Occupational Therapy (OT) team, they said they could not ‘force’ clients to have a shower. I was furious. I told them my [family member] very much wanted to have a shower but was being prevented from doing so because they were not being facilitated by the provision of a chair. The correct equipment was not available.”

A chair was made available to the patient concerned two days later, by which time they had spent 12 days in Grangewood.

“At one stage we were told the OTs would need to have a meeting before my [family member] could get a shower chair and OTs did not work at the weekends.

“I politely pointed out that I had been requesting a shower chair for the past 10 days.

“I would just like to say I am a very patient person and I have massive respect for people working in the field of mental health but to have a patient going without a shower for 12 days is completely unacceptable.

“Medically my [family member] is getting fantastic care in Grangewood but it would also be important for their mental health to ensure they were able to shower with dignity.

“I am highlighting this issue because I do not want any other family to have to go through what we have gone through. I think it was not very compassionate.”

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) told Derry News: “Due to patient/client confidentiality we would not be responding to individual cases.”

“The Trust works in partnership with family and carers in respect of the care and support arrangements for individuals using our services.

“All patients admitted to Grangewood will have access to ensuite rooms for showering. If a patient is using one of the escalation rooms without ensuite, there is a bathroom (with bath) that can be accessed.

“Any patient with a disability will be prioritised for an ensuite room on admission.

“They will have an assessment carried out by our Occupational Therapist team to address any extra requirements such as showering equipment and this can be ordered through stores.

“They will also assess if the patient requires assistance from staff to help with personal care.”

“If a patient/client or their relative has any issue in relation to their treatment or the service they have received, we would encourage them to raise their concerns with the clinical team involved in their care or through the Trust's comments and complaints system - the Patients' Advocate Office.

“The Patients' Advocate Office can be contacted on (028) 7161 1226. All complaints received are investigated promptly and a response issued to the person.”