
Sunstone Ward is a 17 bedded Longer-Term High Dependency Rehabilitation all male unit. The ward provides a therapeutic rehabilitation space for service users with a psychotic illness associated with challenging behaviours that cannot be safely managed in a High Dependency Rehabilitation Ward such as Malachite/Emerald or Somerset Villas. The average length of stay is around 18 months, but may be longer depending on the needs and associated risks.
The expected outcome is that patients will be discharged to a less-restrictive setting. The discharge destinations may include independent accommodation (perhaps with a support package), supported housing (e.g., 24 hours staffed accommodation) or residential care depending on individual needs.
Schizophrenia, Schizo-Affective Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Drug Induced Psychosis
Referrals are made through acute admissions wards when this intervention is indicated. It can also come from Forensic services.
Service users with severe and enduring mental health conditions that require a sustained period of admission and treatment, to be supported with Activities of daily living and access to ongoing support in a community rehab setting. Service users often have complicated dependencies and higher risk factors.
As the North London NHS Foundation Trust, Sunstone ward covers patients who come from all 5 boroughs which are Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey.
The service is also for Service users who will have multiple of the following:
• Treatment resistance
• On-going positive symptoms of psychosis (e.g. delusions and hallucinations)
• Prominent negative symptoms (e.g. poor motivation, apathy, disorganisation)
• Impaired ability to manage activities of daily living (e.g. self-care, shopping, cooking, budgeting)
• Difficulty coping with community living and managing independent tenancies
• History of repeated relapses and hospital admissions which may have been prolonged
• History of risk to themselves, often due to serious self-neglect
• History of risk to others including possible forensic involvement
• Co-morbid mental disorders (e.g. personality disorder, depression, anxiety, OCD etc.)
• Cognitive impairment (as a result of premorbid learning disability, developmental disorders, brain injury or their longstanding psychosis)
• Complex physical health co-morbidities.
We work towards building resilience, using a trauma informed approach. We work proactively as a multidisciplinary team to support our patients towards an appropriate discharge plan. This usually includes a period of graduated transitional leave, tailored to the person’s needs and in close contact with the local community placements.
Greta Unrodee (Ward Manager)
Daniel Hughes (Consultant Psychiatrist)
Neill Wells & Joan Bradford (Matrons)
Kerry O’Brien (Head of Service)