(July 2023) Netflix and Ward Access
‘We would like to ask do any services use Netflix (individual accounts and dongles)? Also do any other services allow risk assessed, individually care planned, unsupervised access to ward based rooms such as ADL kitchens, IT suite, gym?’
At Forest lodge we have a Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon account for our lounge television. Patients have individual accounts for their rooms, although it’s their own personal accounts and we don’t issue individual accounts. Can’t comment on care planned unsupervised rooms, as we are exploring this ourselves. Forest Lodge, Respondent 1 (Acute Ward)
We do allow individual access to Netflix etc in bedspaces via the Trust Wi-Fi. We also allow unsupervised access in the IT room, although this is on the ward. Pine View, Humber Centre
Here at Forest Lodge hospital we do use Netflix which patients have got access if they want to. Patients can get their own account if so inclined and are purchasing this themselves. On the Rehabilitation ward we do have patients who gets unsupervised access to the ADL kitchen, This is after a risk assessment and discussion in the MDT. The Kitchen access SOP is discussed with their named nurse and they sign an agreement as to how the kitchen should be kept, the trust bare below the elbow guidance follow, they all need to have the food Hygiene level 1 certificate which is done with the OT staff as much as possible. Other areas within the hospital are supervised. Forest Lodge, Respondent 2 (Rehab Ward)
(August 2023) Cash Payments in Shops and Cafes
‘Within services that have a patients shop/café does anyone accept electronic or cashless payments, or is everyone using cash only?
I’m trying to look at the ways we prepare patients for the future regarding use of modern technology’
We have a hospital shop at Stockton Hall, but it is cash only. I think there are big cost implications to go to cashless payments. Stockton Hall, Respondent 1
At Stockton Hall we are cash only. One of the main reasons for this is that we don’t have many patients with their own bank accounts, and so they do not have bank cards etc. We also do not currently have Wi-Fi or anything to link card payments to, it does restrict their preparation in terms of using cards/ contactless etc. but it also helps those of our patients who work and attend the shop/ café in counting physical money. Stockton Hall, Respondent 2
(August 2023) Cash Payments in Shops and Cafes
‘Within services that have a patients shop/café does anyone accept electronic or cashless payments, or is everyone using cash only?
I’m trying to look at the ways we prepare patients for the future regarding use of modern technology’
We have a hospital shop at Stockton Hall, but it is cash only. I think there are big cost implications to go to cashless payments. Stockton Hall, Respondent 1
At Stockton Hall we are cash only. One of the main reasons for this is that we don’t have many patients with their own bank accounts, and so they do not have bank cards etc. We also do not currently have Wi-Fi or anything to link card payments to, it does restrict their preparation in terms of using cards/ contactless etc. but it also helps those of our patients who work and attend the shop/ café in counting physical money. Stockton Hall, Respondent 2
(July 2023) Dating Sites and Social Media
‘Are patients with access to smart phones able to join dating sites and explore other social media?’
Here at Forest Lodge patients have all got access to smart phones, which are not monitored. They do sign a contract prior to using this to the effect that they would not be using it for pornographic material in the communal areas, to photograph/video any other patients or staff. Forest Lodge
If they already have access to smart phones, there is no practical way to prevent it. The decision to grant access must take into account that they can access any and all legal (and sometime illegal) websites online. This can’t be an afterthought once granted. Dating sites aren’t illegal. They could buy the Guardian and use a lonely hearts column (if one still exists) to the same end. The issue is what they do once they have ‘met’ someone. The question for me is still when it is appropriate to have access to them. Once they have unescorted leave, we are making a judgement that they are going act safely (they could just as easily drop into a local library and access such sites) and it seems reasonable that they have access to any and all functions of a smartphone. Whether that is while they are physically on the ward is debatable. I err on the side of not. We have an increasing number of stalkers as in-patients, which includes stalking by social media. We also have plenty who already borrow non-smartphones from one another. The simple agreement of having a phone isn’t the only issue to consider in whether they can used safely (including dating and social media sites). Newton Lodge
We’re low secure at Amber some of our guys have unsupervised smartphone access they have care plans for these and they have to request what apps sites they want to access and who they want to add as friends/follow etc. None of our guys have access to dating sites however some do have some social media mainly facebook. we have a workbook we made that they work through to inform them about how to use social media safely and the mdt review this when considering patients requests. Amber Lodge
(June 2023) Radio Stations and Podcasts
‘Does anyone have, or know of anywhere that has, an in-house radio station or podcast? It has been brought up by service users to the advocate and we wanted to do some preliminary fact finding.’
We don’t have a radio station or podcast here at Moorlands View, though this is a great idea. Moorlands View
Nothing like this at Forest Lodge. Forest Lodge
We have run a few different podcasts in the past. Stockton Hall