Speaking Up

Health and Wellbeing Service -
Independent Inpatient Visiting Service (IVS)
About the IVS Service
The Independent Inpatient Visitors
Scheme (IVS) acts as a confidential
and independent listening ear and to
support patients in having a collective
say about their care, treatment and
quality of life during their stay in
hospital. It is not there to problem solve,
but to give people time and support to
help raise issues and signpost people
to other helpful services.
Visitors attend both Longreach and
Bodmin Hospitals psychiatric inpatient
units to meet with patients to hear about
their experiences of ward life. We can
support people to talk to ward staff with
any queries or concerns, if they want
to or we can raise collective issues at
a higher level where they affect the
inpatient service as a whole. Visitors
are often volunteers, some of whom
have experience of mental distress
themselves or have been carers, but
all are committed to ensuring that
people in hospital have a voice.
Inpatient Services are run by Cornwall
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
(CFT) and in September 2015 the Care
Quality Commission (CQC) carried out
an inspection of all CFTs services.
The CQC is the independent body that
inspects and regulates care services
in England. We have summarised
their findings on the next page.
If you would like to comment on the
report, comment on any health service
you have recently accessed or have
any concerns regarding the content of
the report or any health services, you
can contact Healthwatch Cornwall on
08000 381281 the people’s champion
for health and social care in the County.
(See page 14 for more details.)
CRCC’s Health & Wellbeing Service
are the mental health champions for
Healthwatch Cornwall.
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