Mental Health and Learning Disability Services: Inpatient facilities (Western Isles Hospital)

Inpatient facilities at Western Isles Hospital, based in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, are provided as follows:

Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) – for people who are acutely unwell

The APU will accept referrals for people suffering from a recognised or probable acute episode of mental illness, which may include a Learning Disability, where there is evidence of actual or potential danger to self or others, or severe psychosocial dysfunction.  Patients must be assessed as having intense mental health needs that require 24-hour medical care/supervision, which cannot be met in a less restrictive environment.

Every patient who is admitted to the APU will be under the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist and a Named Nurse. Sometimes a patient will also have a named Social Worker. The clinical and nursing team work in partnership with the patient and their family/carer, with care and treatment reviewed daily – and more formally at the weekly Ward Round where the patient is involved as well as other members of the multi-disciplinary team, where appropriate.

Flexible Visiting Policy

Visitors are welcome to visit the Unit any day between 11am-8pm. However, the Unit does ask visitors to respect patients protected mealtimes (see below). Flexible visiting outwith the above times is at the discretion of staff, so please discuss this with the nurse in charge.

Please note visiting restrictions may be in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. View current visiting guidance here.

Protected Mealtimes

To help each patient eat well and give them the comfort to eat their meals without interruptions, the Unit has introduced protected mealtimes. These are:

Breakfast: 8am-9am
Lunch: 12 noon – 1.30pm
Evening Meal: 5pm-6.30pm

Unless you are helping or encouraging a patient to eat, all visitors are asked to respect the protected mealtime hours listed above and not visit patients during these times.

Further information

Ann Duncan
Senior Charge Nurse
Acute Psychiatry Unit
Western Isles Hospital
Tel. 01851 704704