Visit to Ernest Gardiner Treatment Centre, Letchworth Garden City

Our reports are public documents and we share them with the commissioners, regulators and providers of the service we are visiting.

Healthwatch Hertfordshire (HwH) was asked by Matron Lorraine Roberts, responsible for the Ernest Gardiner Treatment Centre, if an Enter and View visit could be undertaken by HwH to give them some independent feedback on their service. It has been registered with the CQC since 2013 but has not been inspected by them as yet. Following a meeting with Lorraine Roberts, a proposal for a visit was put together and agreed by the HwH Quality Improvement Sub- Committee.

The Ernest Garden Treatment Centre offers nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy treatments to the communities of Letchworth Garden City and Baldock. It is a privately owned and privately run facility offering free healthcare (the only one in the country). It is run by Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation supported with funds raised by the League of Friends for medical equipment (a charitable service of the Heritage Foundation, Letchworth Garden City).

What we found

The Centre appears to be a very friendly, inviting and professional, well run unit which is of great benefit to the local people. It is under-utilised, which is a great pity, but has the benefit of there being more time for those patients who attend, including the fact that patients are able to remain for as long as it is of help, even if the help is purely social.

We made recommendations for improvement to the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.

What changed as a result of our visits

• Blue grab rails purchased and installed.
• Improved cleaning schedules implemented.
• Complaints policy updated.
• Red emergency cord lengthened in the toilet to meet patient safety rules.