Ward 18 Priestley unit (Kirklees)

About the service

Ward 18 is a mixed-sex inpatient ward for working age adults on Priestley unit at Dewsbury and District Hospital. It provides 24 hour support to people experiencing mental health conditions.

The ward aims to provide a relaxing environment for people experiencing a serious mental health condition that requires inpatient treatment.

The ward has 23 single bedrooms, a therapeutic garden, outdoor sports area, gym facilities, laundry, male and female lounges, a large communal area, dining room with conservatory, visiting rooms, a child visiting area, separate male and female corridors, bathrooms, showers and activity rooms.

People will be assessed and treated using a wide range of therapies and approaches provided by doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and the therapeutic activities team.

The ward works closely with a range of community-based teams to promote early discharge and a smooth transition back into the community.

There is also a carer’s support network that provides information and support whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.

Service users on ward 18 may be detained under the Mental Health Act or may be subject to the conditions of the Mental Capacity Act.

Why would someone choose the service?

• Family and carers are offered one to one support and invited to contribute to team meetings
• Our facilities are modern, designed to promote privacy and dignity, and have recently been decorated. We also have a fully equipped gym and dedicated ward therapy team
• Service users will be actively involved in their care plan
• Our staff will help you work at your own pace and always respect your wishes
• We run creativity sessions that all service users can take part in and we hold regular exhibitions of work
• 100% of service users stated that they had been involved in reviews/meetings to discuss their care
• We are a teaching ward and work closely with Huddersfield University, providing care, education and treatment in line with the latest research
• We provide ‘person-centred care’ – we develop a care plan around the needs of the service user and, if relevant, their carer(s)
• The ward works in a way that is focused on recovery, putting service users and carers at the heart of what we do. We listen and act on what they have to say about our services and the way they are delivered
• Our service is responsive 24 / 7
• We work closely with many other agencies to ensure the best outcomes for service users and carers

Staff you may meet

Activity co-ordinator

Activity co-ordinators are responsible for implementing a range of therapeutic activities. Examples of activities provided include social, recreational, leisure, communication, sensory or educational sessions.

Administrator

Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.

Dietitian

Dietitians use the science of food to help people to make good choices about food and lifestyle. Nutrition is an important part of recovery and wellbeing. All service users admitted to a Trust ward have their nutritional state assessed.

Doctor

There are more than 60 different specialities that doctors work within the NHS. Each is unique but there are many characteristics which are common. Roles range from working in a hospital to being based in the community as a GP.

Domestic

Domestic staff have a vital role in helping to care for patients. They work in one of three key areas; catering, cleaning or laundry services. All of these services play an important part in aiding an individual’s recovery.

Non-clinical support staff

There are many people who work behind the scenes to keep services running and you may meet them in hospital or community settings. They include porters, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, decorators receptionists and secretaries who all work to make sure healthcare settings are kept clean, tidy and safe.

Nurse

Nurses who choose to specialise in the mental health branch of nursing work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients. Increasingly, care is given in the community, with mental health nurses visiting patients and their families at home, in residential centres, in prisons or in specialist clinics or units.

Nursing assistant

Nursing or healthcare assistants work in hospital or community settings under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. They help doctors, nurses and therapists give people the care and treatment they need.

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific, purposeful activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life.

Other clinical staff

The NHS employs a wide range of clinical staff, it wouldn’t be possible to list them all on this website! All our clinical staff are skilled, dedicated professionals who adhere to high standards of training and work-place practice.

Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists help people to improve their range of movement in order to promote health and well being. This can help people to live more independently.

Receptionist

Receptionists are the first link for many patients and visitors. They often work on their own or with one or two other receptionists, greeting patients as they arrive and check them in. They might also collect patient notes and ensure that these vital records go to the right healthcare professional. In a clinic, they may make appointments and arrange patient transport.

Social worker

Social workers help, support and protect people who are facing difficulties in their lives. They help people to take positive steps to overcome problems and improve their lives. This could involve assessing and reviewing a service user’s situation, building relationships with service users and their families and agreeing what practical support someone needs.

Specialist advisor

We have a range of specialist advisors working in our Trust – they give advice on a wide range of different things, depending on what service they work in. So it could be, for example, mental health, stopping smoking, healthy eating or diabetes.

Specialist health worker

We have a range of health workers who all have different specialities. This could be in a certain condition, a therapy or the advice they can give you. Our specialists our highly skilled and trained professionals, ready to offer you help and advice whenever you need it.

Support worker