Glasgow City HSCP’s Balmore Ward at Levendale Hospital is a specialist dementia care unit, caring for older people with various types of dementia. The ward is subdivided into two self-contained single sex units, with eight beds in one ward and 10 beds in the other. 

Balmore Ward was visited by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS) in November 2023. A report has now been issued commending staff on their work to meet recommendations from a previous visit in November 2022. 

The MWCS report stated that: “Considerable work has been undertaken to improve the standard of care planning since our last visit and the staff should be commended for this.  We were particularly impressed with the ongoing work around management of stress and distress, particularly around the development of the flashcards. Considerable thought had gone into this development. We felt this novel development was an exemplar of good practice which could be shared with other areas.“

 The report also highlighted an improvement in the quality of information recorded: “During this visit we found that the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) reviews were much improved and contained information on who was present, a summary of the patient’s presentation and clear information about decisions made and actions required.”

Anne Mitchell, Head of Older People and Primary Care for our HSCP’s South Locality said: “This is an outstanding report from the Mental Welfare Commission Scotland. It’s full of positive feedback, and all of the staff should be extremely proud of this report. It’s really impressive to get a report like this from them.”

Lauren Doyle, Senior Charge Nurse, Balmore Ward said: “We’re delighted with the outcome of the innovative changes we implemented and the positive impact this has had in shaping our care delivery towards adults with dementia. The recognition is testament to our dedicated team, and our ability to continuously strive for the highest quality of care.

“Over the past few years, our hard working and enthusiastic team have been committed to improving patient care plans by making them more individualised and person-centred whilst transitioning to a new electronic format. Staff focus on ensuring families and carers of our patients feel welcomed in the unit and are involved in their loved one’s care.

“Working closely with our colleagues within our highly skilled multidisciplinary team, we have a combined dedication to quality improvement. With the assistance from our clinical psychologist, we have better integrated the Newcastle model of dementia care into the delivery of everyday care. This gives staff the knowledge and tools to reduce patients’ distressed behaviours and guide the way for a positive care experience.

“In addition to our team effort for care delivery, we had also set out to increase team morale and achieve a positive atmosphere to benefit all. Our strong leadership and collaborative efforts from all staff helped us to achieve this. Despite periods of high clinical activity and external pressures we remain motivated to deliver high quality care and nursing practice.”

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has a key role to protect and promote the human rights of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia and related conditions. The Commission visits people who are being treated or cared for in a variety of settings. In addition to meeting with people who use the service the Commission can also speak to staff and visitors.