This leaflet provides helpful information for your stay on Akenside, a specialist inpatient ward for older people with functional mental health conditions.
This leaflet provides you with information that you will find useful during your stay. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of staff.
Most older people with mental health needs will receive assessment, treatment and care in their own home. However, for a small number of people admission to hospital will be appropriate.
Inpatient Services for older people provide specialist mental health assessment and
treatment in hospital for two main groups:
- Functional mental health – conditions such as depression, anxiety or psychosis
- Organic mental health – with progressive conditions such as dementia
Akenside is an inpatient unit, which treats people with functional mental health conditions. The ward is based at Centre for Health of the Elderly, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne.
You have come into hospital because you have mental health needs that require support from a range of specialist doctors, nurses and other health care workers. To enable the right support to be organised to meet your needs, it is important everyone understands exactly what your needs are and what will help you.
We aim to work together with you to help you manage your needs so that you can move forward in your life with the support you require in the most acceptable way for you.
This is the assessment process and staff will seek your consent on all aspects of your care plan throughout your stay in hospital.
During your stay in hospital you will have a named nurse who will be responsible for co-ordinating your care. If your named nurse is not on duty you will have access to any of the nursing team.
You will be given the name of your named nurse within 24 hours of your admission. They will introduce themselves to you as soon as they are next on duty. However on a daily basis there is a nurse in charge as a point of contact; this will be displayed on a board on the ward.
There is a lot of evidence that shows you can gain a great deal by participating in the right activities that are designed to meet your needs. The benefits and ranges of activities will be discussed with you by a member of the multi disciplinary team.
How long you stay in hospital depends on your needs.
However, the care team will discuss discharge with you as quickly as possible after your admission. It is important to emphasise you will not remain in hospital any longer than you need to. We aim to keep your time spent in hospital to a minimum.
We value information from family and friends to help with assessment and treatment. We will involve your family and friends as much as possible with your permission and aim to support them as much as we can.
The point at which you are ready to leave the ward will be a significant milestone. You may still need some help and support, which will be discussed with you before you are discharged and a copy of these arrangements (your discharge care plan) will be given to you and your carers.
Inpatient areas operate protected mealtimes. This means you have the right to enjoy mealtimes without unnecessary disruption. Further detail is available on the ward.
Each inpatient area operates preferred visiting times and therefore we advise that before your relatives or carers visit that they check with nursing staff for these times.
Within 24 hours of admission, you will be given more detailed information about your hospital stay and an opportunity to discuss any further information needs you may have. Do not hesitate to approach any member of staff for information.
If you require an interpreter staff can arrange to book an appointment.
Contact Traveline for travel information
Telephone: 0871 200 22 33
Website: www.
If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
- talk to the people directly involved in your care
- ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.
cntw.nhs.uk/ contact/ complaints/ - telephone the Complaints Department Tel: 0191 245 6672
- email complaints
@cntw.nhs.uk
We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.
You can provide feedback in the following ways:
- the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.
- complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
- other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.
We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.
North of Tyne
Tel: 0800 032 0202
Email: pals
Post: FREEPOST PALS
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Telephone: 0191 246 6800
Website: www.
The Alzheimer’s Society
Website: www.
Telephone: 0333 150 3456
Monday to Wednesday, 9am to 8pm
Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Age UK
Telephone: 0800 055 6112 (Monday to Sunday, 8am to 7pm)
Website: www.
UK physical activity guidelines, Department of Health July 2011
Fact sheet 4: Adults (19-64 years)
Fact sheet 5: Older adults (65+ years)
Akenside Inpatients
Centre for Health of the Elderly
Campus for Ageing and Vitality
Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6BE
Telephone: 0191 246 8745
Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.
This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2025 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref: PIC/495/0125 January 2025 V6
Website: www.
Telephone: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2028