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 on the ward.
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 – for progressive conditions such as dementia
Ruskin is an inpatient unit, which treats people with organic mental health conditions. The ward is based at Carleton Clinic, Carlisle, Cumbria.
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 and your family/carer 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/and involvement in 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 everyday there is a nurse in charge who is a point of contact; this information is displayed on a board on the ward corridor near the office.
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. There are a range of therapeutic activities available to you while you are in hospital which will be discussed individually with you.
All nursing staff on Ruskin wear hospital uniform.
How long you stay in hospital depends on your needs. However, the care team will discuss discharge with you and your family/carer 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.
Carers are entitled to an assessment of their own needs if necessary. At the entrance to the ward there is a selection of information leaflets for carers. Carer resources are also available at www.cntw.nhs.uk/carers
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 meal times. This means you have the right to enjoy meal times without unnecessary disruption. Further detail is available below.
Ruskin visiting times are normally between 10am and 8 pm.
We would ask that you don’t visit during protected meal times:
Breakfast 8 am – 9.30 am
Lunch 12 noon – 1.00 pm
Dinner 5 pm – 6 pm
Supper 8 pm – 9 pm
You can use the ward telephone to contact relatives. Mobile phones are allowed on the ward but we ask they are not used in communal areas.
Within 24 hours of admission, you and your carer will be given more detailed information about your hospital stay and an opportunity to discuss any further information needs you may have. Please ask any member of staff for information.
Staff can arrange an interpreter if you need one.
Advocacy services are available to people admitted to Ruskin Unit. Please ask staff for details.
- Bus timetable information – Telephone: 0871 200 22 33 (7am – 8pm)
- Bus routes for Carlisle – www.cumbria.gov.uk/buses/carlisle
- Public transport maps – https://
www. cumbria.gov.uk/ roads-transport/ public-transport-road-safety/ transport/ publictransport/ busserv/ timetables/ clr/ transportmaps.asp
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.
PALS
Tel: 0800 032 0202
Email: pals
Post: FREEPOST PALS
South of Tyne
Tel: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: pals@
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB
9.00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday
An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.
Lived Experience Service
Telephone: 01670 501 816
Involving patients, carers and their families in making decisions about their care, can lead to better outcomes and a better overall experience. The Lived Experience Service co-ordinate and facilitate involvement, as well as providing training and support to those who wish to help the Trust shape service design and delivery. To find out more information visit our webpage: www.cntw.nhs.uk/involvement or email: involvement
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Telephone: 0191 246 6800
Website: www.
The Alzheimer’s Society
Telephone: 0300 222 11 22 (Mon-Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs and Fri 9am-5pm, Sat and Sun 10am-4pm)
Website: www.
Living well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy - Department of Health 2009
Ruskin Unit
Carleton Clinic
Cumwhinton Drive
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA1 3SX
Telephone: 01228 608 080
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 telephone: 0191 246 7288.
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/868/1224 December 2024 V2
Website: www.
Telephone: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2025