This leaflet tells you about Woodhorn Ward. It is a ward for older people who need help with their mental health.
Many of the people who stay here have dementia. The ward has 10 beds. Both men and women stay here.
This leaflet tells you what you need to know while you are with us. If there is anything you do not understand, please ask a member of staff. We are happy to help.
Most older people who need help with their mental health get help at home. But a few people need to come into hospital for a while.
Wards like ours help older people with two kinds of mental health illness:
- Illness that changes how you feel and think. These include depression, anxiety and psychosis.
Staff sometimes call this functional illness. - Illness that slowly changes the brain, such as dementia.
Staff sometimes call this organic illness.
Woodhorn is a ward for people with dementia and other illnesses. The ward is at St George's Park in Morpeth, Northumberland.
You have come into hospital because you need help with your mental health. Doctors, nurses and other staff are here to give you that help.
We need to know what is wrong and what will help you feel better. Staff call this an assessment. We will talk with you and spend time with you to find out.
Then we will write a care plan. This says what help you will get. We will talk to you about your care plan and ask if you agree. We will do this all the way through your stay.
We like to involve your family and carers. We want to help you feel better with the right support.
One nurse will look after your care. This is your named nurse. We will tell you their name within one day of you coming in. They will come and say hello when they are next at work.
If your named nurse is not at work, another nurse will help you.
There is also a nurse in charge every day. You can talk to them at any time. Their name is on a board in the ward corridor, near the office.
All the nurses on the ward wear a hospital uniform.
Doing things you enjoy can help you feel better. There are lots of activities on the ward.
Staff will talk to you about you enjoy.
This depends on how much help you need. You will not stay any longer than you need to.
We will talk with you and your family or carer about going home.
Your family and friends know you well. What they tell us helps us look after you. We will keep them updated with your care if you want us to. We will support them too.
If someone cares for you, they can ask for help with their own needs. This is a carer's assessment. There are leaflets for carers at the ward entrance.
Leaving the ward is a big step. You may still need some help at home. We will talk to you about this before you go.
You and your carer will also get this in writing. This is your discharge care plan. It says what help you will get after you leave.
Meal times on the ward are quiet times. This means you can enjoy your meal in peace.
Staff on the ward can tell you more.
Your visitors can come at most times of the day.
Please ask them not to come at meal times:
- Breakfast 8am to 9.30am
- Lunch 11.45am to 1pm
- Dinner 4.15pm to 5.15pm
- Supper 8pm to 9pm
You can use a mobile phone. Please do not use it in rooms that everyone shares.
If you do not have access to a mobile phone, staff can support you.
You and your carer will get a welcome guide when you arrive.
It tells you more about your stay. You can ask staff about anything you are not sure about.
If you prefer to speak in another language, we can arrange an interpreter.
Sometimes it helps to have someone to speak up for you. We call these people an advocate.
They do not work for the ward. Ask a member of staff if you would like an advocate.
By bus
St George's Park is less than a mile from Morpeth bus station. The walk is uphill. You can also get a taxi from the town centre.
A bus goes from Morpeth bus station to St George's Park.
By train
The train station is about one and a half miles from St George's Park. The walk is uphill. There are taxis at the station.
By car
You can park at St George's Park. There are spaces near the main door and near Woodhorn Ward. You pay at the machine and put the ticket in your car window.
Get bus times and other help from Traveline
Phone: 0871 200 22 33
Website: www.traveline.info
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Phone: 0191 246 6800
Website: www.
The Alzheimer’s Society
Phone: 0300 222 11 22
Website: www.
Open:
Monday to Wednesday - 9am to 8pm
Thursday and Friday - 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 4pm
Age UK
Phone: 0800 169 6565
Website: www.
Open every day, 8am to 7pm
Woodhorn Ward
St George’s Park
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2NU
Phone: 01670 501 876
Email: WoodhornWardOPS
You can talk to a staff member or use the contacts listed below. See other ways to give feedback.
Your Voice
You can use this email to tell us what you think about your care. This can be good or bad. You can also ask us to tell you what happens after you send feedback.
Email: yourvoice
Comments and complaints
If something went wrong, please tell us. This will help us improve services.
Email: complaints
Telephone: 0191 245 6672
Write to: Complaints Department, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS offer a free, confidential service. They can help if you are worried about your care. They support patients, families and carers.
PALS North of Tyne
(services in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and North Cumbria)
Email: pals
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
You can get more information about this leaflet from the Patient Information Centre. This includes how the leaflet was made. We can provide this leaflet in other formats. These include Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, British Sign Language, and other languages.
We welcome your feedback about this leaflet. You can email pic
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref: PIC/497/0826 V7
Review date 2029
Website: www.
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 (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288.
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2023 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/497/0123 January 2023 V6
Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2026