At the time of our inspection visit, there were nine patients accommodated at the hospital. We spoke with five patients and one visiting relative.

Four of the five patients spoke positively about the staff and the care they received at the hospital. One patient told us that this was their first experience of staying at the hospital. They said it was “really comfortable”; that staff were “really nice, very helpful and kind” and they believed their privacy and dignity was respected. They told us that the staff were prompt in answering nurse call bells and that the ward was “kept lovely and clean”. Another patient said it was “excellent” and the staff were “respectful”.

Other patients told us that staff were “very respectful and helpful”. They said if you needed assistance staff responded quickly. One patient told us that they had been assessed by the occupational therapist and they were involved in the planning and preparation for their eventual return to their home.

One patient said they did not like being in a shared bay on the ward. They said they “were not use to being in hospital” and “they didn’t like it”.

One visiting relative said the service at Bealey Community Hospital was “Fantastic” and “Brilliant”. We heard they were kept informed about their relative’s health and the treatment plan that was in place.

The matron for the service told us that when patients were discharged from the service they were given a questionnaire requesting feedback about the service they received. We looked at seven returned questionnaires from between January and May 2012. Almost all rated each aspect of the service either excellent or good. Comments included “I found my stay in Bealey Community Hospital to be excellent in every aspect of care and treatment”.

We spoke with a range of health care professionals who worked alongside the hospital staff ensuring people were admitted appropriately and discharged safely. All spoke positively about the service provided at the hospital.