Service : Learning Disability Inpatient Service

Our specialist learning disability inpatient service is called Campion and is a ward within Prospect Park Hospital in Reading.

We provide inpatient care for adults who have a learning disability and mental health needs or behaviour that puts them or others at significant risk of harm.

The ward has single bedrooms for up to nine people. It is a mixed sex facility, but there are separate sleeping areas for males and females which have restricted access. Please do not enter restricted areas that are off limits to you unless the nursing team says that you can. This is to protect the safety, privacy, and dignity of all patients.

On arrival, you will be welcomed by a member of the care team. They will explain what will happen during the admission and give further information.

You will be told who your key nurse is. Your key nurse will be the primary contact for your family and carers during your stay on the ward, but any member of the team can discuss problems, fears, or concerns during your stay on the ward.

Medication will be managed and given by the qualified nursing team.

Activities

The ward has a structured activity programme which includes group and individual therapeutic activities.

Our Active Support Programme focuses on enabling you to do more in your daily life. The timetable will change regularly to meet the needs of the individuals on the ward at any particular time.

Please talk to the ward’s occupational therapy team for more details.

Ward rounds

Ward rounds are meetings held on a weekly basis where members of the healthcare team discuss the care being delivered and future plans. Patients and their families can join the ward round to be included in the discussions about their care.

The ward rounds are currently held on Tuesdays from 3pm to 5pm, and on Wednesdays, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Community meetings

All our patients are invited to attend weekly community meetings which are an opportunity to raise any areas of concern together with other patients and staff. These issues may be important to other patients as well, or recommended changes could have a positive effect on their environment and their experience of being an inpatient.

Visiting times

We don’t have specific visiting times on Campion ward, so that your carers, family, and friends can visit at times that work for you. We recommend that your visitors phone before visiting, so they don’t come when you’re busy with other activities.

We do not have the facilities on Campion Ward to allow children to visit, but there is a family room in the hospital where you can meet family and friends who are under the age of 18. Ask the nurse-in-charge to make appropriate arrangements.

Admissions to Campion are managed by the Learning Disability Intensive Support Team (IST) to ensure that only those people with a learning disability, whose needs cannot be met safely in the community, are admitted into inpatient care.

If an emergency admission is needed outside of the IST’s working hours, the Mental Health Crisis team, together with Prospect Park Bed Management Team will coordinate an admission.

Contact us

The service at Campion operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.

Call: 0118 960 5274

Or call the Prospect Park Hospital Switchboard on 0118 960 5000 and ask for Campion Ward.

Assessments will usually be done on the ward. Sometimes, assessments may be done in the local community, for example, if a patient is due to be discharged from the ward and they may need specialist equipment in their home.

If you would like to have another person (a family member, carer, or friend) with you during any assessment, please speak to the ward staff to see if this is possible.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed on the hospital site. We can offer advice on stopping smoking and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is also available on the ward.

Personal property

When you arrive on the ward, the nurse will check through your personal belongings and list them in a property book.

There is limited storage space on the ward, so please don’t bring too many items onto the ward. Also, while we try to avoid room changes during an admission, it is possible that during your stay you may need to switch to a different bedroom.

To keep the ward safe for everyone, some items are not allowed. This includes:

• alcohol
• illegal drugs or any form of non-prescribed medications
• lighters, flammable liquids, or matches
• knives and any other types of weapons
• sharp or pointed instruments of any kind, which includes scissors
• toxic substances, e.g. bleach, cleaning solutions, nail varnish remover, aftershave, or perfume
• large amounts of money
• valuables, such as expensive jewellery
• pornography of any kind
• any violent or offensive literature or material
• metal cans of any type
• plastic bags
• glass
• coat hangers
• razor blades

If we find any of these items, they will be removed for safekeeping or to be destroyed.

Mobile phones, laptops, and tablet devices, such as iPads are allowed on the ward, but chargers are to be handed in to reduce the risk of loss or fire, and to protect the privacy of other patients, you cannot use take photos or make video or audio recordings. We may restrict access to your devices if you are not using them appropriately.

The Trust accepts no responsibility for damage to, or loss of, any personal property brought onto the ward.

Alarms

There are several types of alarms on the ward which are for staff attention. Staff may direct you during any type of alarm to promote your safety.

If you need to be provided with an alarm during your visit, the nursing team will assist you in the use of the alarm.

Religious and spiritual needs

We recognise that for many people their spiritual needs and religious beliefs are very important and can provide support during recovery. You can ask a nurse to put you in contact with our chaplain, who can provide spiritual care, meet your religious needs, or help you keep up contact with your local faith community.

Some patients may have to go into hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act once all other care and treatment options have been fully considered.

When someone is held under a section of the Mental Health Act, a member of the nursing team will give a written and verbal explanation of their rights. A family member is likely to be named as the ‘Nearest Relative’ for the purpose of the Mental Health Act and then a member of the nursing staff will support by providing further written and verbal information about the rights under the Mental Health Act.

We’ve created some Easy Read documents to help you better understand your rights. You can download them from the links below.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

Advocacy services provide free independent and confidential advocacy services for our patients, which can help resolve issues or concerns about health and wellbeing or health and social care services. There are different organisations based on where you live. Please speak to one of the nurses for contact details.