Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Below you will find frequently asked questions from carers and relatives of our service users.
Am I a carer?
“Carer” is the word we use in our Trust to refer to people that offer unpaid support to a loved one. Are you supporting a relative, a friend or a neighbour that might not be able to look after themselves or do certain things without your help? If so, you are probably an unpaid carer.
Am I entitled to support?
Yes! There is a lot of support available for you, both through our Trust and through outside agencies. We can refer you for support if you feel you are struggling or might need help with a certain thing/area/issue. You can self-refer for support through this link: Lincolnshire Carer Service - Request for support | Request for support – Lincolnshire County Council or ask a professional to make a referral for you.
Where can I ask for help?
You can self-refer for support through this link: Lincolnshire Carer Service - Request for support | Request for support – Lincolnshire County Council or ask a professional to make a referral for you if you don’t feel confident doing it.
I would like to make a complaint; how can I do this?
We are very sorry you have had a bad experience or are unhappy with our service. All our complaints are made through the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS). You can contact them over phone on 01529 222 265, email on lpft.
Freepost RSAZ-SJHU-CKYK
Patient Experience Team
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Unit 9, The point
Lions Way
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 8GG
I have heard about the Carer Passport. What is it and how can I get one?
Our Carer Passport recognises your labour in the care of your loved one and provides useful information about how to support them better whilst looking after yourself. This is usually provided along with the Carer Lanyard. You can contact our email address lpft.
Alternatively, if you are in contact with someone that works in our Trust, you can ask them for one. This can be sent to your home address if you wish so.
I have heard about the Carer Lanyard; how can I get one?
Our LPFT carers are entitled to have carer lanyards. This recognises you as an important part of your loved one’s care. They are usually provided along with the Carer Passport. You can contact our email address lpft.
Parking at different sites
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- If you want to visit Peter Hodgkinson Centre (PHC) for either PCDU, MHUAC, Castle or Ellis ward, the easiest option is paying for parking at the main hospital. There are some 2h free parking spaces in streets close to the hospital, but you would need to be able to walk 5-10 minutes. If you have a blue badge, there are some available spaces at the front of the building for easy access. You can take the number 4 bus that will take you to the main hospital door. It is a 9-minute walk from there.
- If you are visiting Ward 12 in Boston, the easiest option is paying for parking at the main hospital. You can take bus number 57 that will take you to Pilgrim Hospital. Ward 12 is 4-minute walk from the bus stop.
- Ash Villa has free parking on the road. There is a bus stop in the same street, for lines S35S and S73S.
- Discovery House (The Fens, The Vales, The Wolds) has plenty of free parking on site. Bus 77 has the closest stop in Long Leys Road.
- For Carholme Court, Saxon Court and the Trust Headquarters, there is a big free car park on site with plenty of spaces available. Bus 77 has the closest stop in Long Leys Road.
- If you are visiting Francis Willis Unit, the easiest option is paying for parking at the main hospital. There are some 2h free parking spaces in streets close to the hospital, but you would need to be able to walk 5-10 minutes. If you have a blue badge, there are a couple of available spaces at the front of the building for easy access. You will need to press the intercom on arrival and inform staff of this. You can take the number 4 bus that will take you to the main hospital door. It is a 9-minute walk from there.
- Maple Lodge has free parking. The closest bus stop is located in Woodthorpe Avenue, just a short walk away, and this is for line B1D.
- Witham Court (Brant and Langworth ward) has free on-site parking and 2 blue badge spaces. There is additional on-street parking within a few minutes’ walk. The closest bus stop is for both buses 15 and 16 and is a 10-minute walk in Lincoln Road.
- Hickman Street (Gainsborough base) has a big pay and display car park nearby. It also has a few 2h/30 min free spaces in the area. Bus 100 and 2 stop at Gainsborough bus station, a couple of minutes’ walk away.
- Holly Lodge (Skegness base) has a large area with car parking spaces and a couple of disabled spaces. Wednesday is a particularly busy day with staff from other services to work there. Tuesday can sometimes be busy as well. Bus 56 stops at Lincoln Road, a 5-minute walk away. Bus 2 also has a stop at Scrampton Way, 10-minute walk from the base.
- Johnson Community hospital (Spalding base) has a free large car park for visitors however it can get full on outpatient days which are Tuesday and Thursday. Both buses B3 and B9 will take you to the hospital door.
- Beech House (Boston base) has free parking for visitors. The closest bus stop is located in Woodthorpe Avenue, just a short walk away, and this is for line B1D.
- The Sycamore Centre (Grantham) – Parking on site can be very tight at times but anyone visiting a team on site can park in any vacant space and there is no charge for parking. There is a bus stop for line 9 a short walk away in Sandon Road.
- Elm Lodge (Grantham) - Parking on site can be very tight at times but anyone visiting a team on site can park in any vacant space and there is no charge for parking. There is a bus stop for line 9 a short walk away in Sandon Road.
- Beaconsfield Centre (Grantham) - Parking on site can be very tight at times but anyone visiting a team on site can park in any vacant space and there is no charge for parking. There is a bus stop for line 9 a short walk away in Sandon Road.
- Stamford Resource Centre - There is a car park at the base and parking is free. There are two disabled bays. The closest bus stop is located in Ryhall Road a few minutes’ walk away, with service for lines 4, 29, 201 and 202.
- The Point and the Willows (Sleaford base) - Free car park with many spaces, although some days are busier than others. There are approximately 4 designated patient/carer parking spaces at The Willows. However, if there is no space, there are plenty of places nearby that can be used. There is also an NHS overflow car park very close by. Bus line 31 and 31X stop at East Road, 4 minutes’ walk from the units.
- Windsor House (Louth base) - There is parking at the front outside reception, and parking at roadside (left side of the road). The closest bus stops is located a 7 minutes’ walk from the unit and it is for line 51.
Can I attend meetings with my loved one / the person I am supporting?
Of course! Your input is very welcomed, you are the expert in your loved one’s care. You can attend meetings with them; however, it will depend on your loved one consenting for this to happen. You can still speak to the professional before or after the meeting. It is their duty to listen to you and address any concerns or questions you might have.
What support is available locally?
There are loads of places where you can find support.
If you are struggling with your current caring role, you are entitled to have an assessment of your needs and you can self-refer here Lincolnshire Carer Service - Request for support | Request for support – Lincolnshire County Council.
What do I do if the person I care for does not allow me to be involved?
If your loved one does not consent for information to be shared with you or does not allow you to be involved in their care and treatment, the professionals still have a duty towards you and can share general information about your loved-one’s care and treatment. You can still raise concerns and give your views to the professionals involved with your loved one. You are also entitled to support, independently of consent, and should be signposted to this.
If your loved one is admitted to a ward and you believe they might not have the capacity to understand the effects of not sharing information with you, this should be formally assessed by the nursing team. If they are found to lack capacity, information can and should be shared with you.
Who do I speak to if I'm concerned about my loved one?
If your loved one has a named nurse (can be called CPNs if in the community), you can speak to them and raise your concerns. If your concerns are more immediate, you can contact Single Point of Access (SPA) 0303 123 4000 which is available 24/7 and they will direct you to the Crisis Team.
If they are admitted to a ward, they should have a Carer Lead or Carer Champion that will be happy to speak with you, note your concerns, and raise them.
If you or your loved one are at immediate risk, please contact the relevant emergency services on 999.
Who is involved in the care of my loved one?
If your loved one is admitted to a ward, you can find this out by contacting them. Your loved one should have at the very least a named nurse and a consultant psychiatrist. Ask for the carer lead or carer champion of the ward, they can offer you more information.
If your loved one is in the community, they might have a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) who would be the main professional involved in their care and treatment. They should also have a Community Consultant Psychiatrist. You can find more information about the team that is supporting your loved one by contacting Single Point of Access (SPA) 0303 123 4000.
Who can I contact if my loved one is out of area (OOA)?
Contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0303 123 4000, so that they can direct you to the appropriate local community or bed manager team.
Can I offer my opinion in my loved one's path to recovery?
Yes, absolutely. We welcome your valuable opinion and expertise. You know your loved one better than us. Professionals should include you in decision-making and listen to your concerns or suggestions.
Can I challenge any decisions I might not agree with?
Yes, you should be challenging any decisions you do not agree with. Professionals should listen to you, and if they disagree, you should be given an explanation about why this is.
Is information available in different languages?
Yes, at the bottom of the screen on our website, you should see a “show accessibility tools” “tab” in which you can change the language of the website, as well as the text size and contrast.
If you would like any of the available leaflets in a different language, contact one of our staff. They should be able to get them for you.
Can I book an interpreter? If so, who would pay for it?
If an interpreter is needed for either you or your loved one, this should be provided by our Trust with no cost to you. Please inform any of the professionals involved in your loved one's treatment you wish for an interpreter to be present during the meeting/assessment/phone call etc.
I am a working carer, how can I get involved?
Even if you work, you can still be involved in your loved one’s care. Your level of involvement should be adapted to your wishes and there is no expectation of you dedicating a certain amount of time to your loved one’s care. If your work pattern means you cannot make an appointment for your loved one and both you and they want you to be present, raise it with the main professional involved - an alternative date and time should hopefully be provided.
I have been told that my loved one is not consenting - what does this mean?
We use the word “consent” for different things, but it usually means the patient does not want information to be shared with someone. If this is the case, only general information can be shared with you.
However, if you believe your loved one is too unwell and would not otherwise be making this decision, you can challenge it. A formal capacity assessment should be done by a professional, who will ascertain whether your loved one is well enough to take the decision of not sharing information with you.
My loved one has been admitted to hospital. What happens now?
This can be a very difficult time and full of uncertainty. You can contact the ward as often as you like for reassurance, staff are there to support you as well. However, ward staff are usually very busy. A dedicated carer lead (sometimes called carer champions) would be the best person to speak to, as they are there specifically to support you and make sure you are as involved as you would like. You should be sent a carer pack with further information about the ward and support available.
Wards are staffed 24/7, there is always someone around. Patients are checked on regularly, at least once every hour, depending on the acuity of the ward and the individual needs of each patient.
Your loved one will be seen by a consultant who will initially assess them and will see them at least once a week. They will also have a named nurse who will be the main responsible for your loved one’s care while in hospital.
