Archived: Platinum Plus Healthcare

One person said 'I could not have wished for a better service' whilst a relative said 'All I can say is they went the extra mile' and 'nothing was too much trouble'. One relative said 'after trying three other agencies Platinum Plus was a breath of fresh air.' This relative said they thought this was because all of the staff 'really do care and carry out what they promise at the initial consultation.' Another relative wrote positively saying 'Having worked as a nurse myself within the NHS, their care and attitude was incomparable & most unexpected!'. One relative said 'they were professional but also very sympathetic'. This relative talked extensively about how supportive the provider was at the end of their partner's life. They said 'He called in out of hours and stayed with me when we waited for the doctors to come. On one occasion he stayed with me until 5am. Nothing was too much trouble' They went on to say 'not only were they caring for my husband they were caring for me.'

A relative said 'For such a young team, you could not fault them and hospital staff could learn from the way they looked after her.' People said all the staff were 'exceptional' or 'good', and 'highly professional'. Other relatives described the staff as 'faultless.'

One relative wrote 'Their palliative care was amazing. Myself, and a couple of other members of the family stayed with her for the entire 5 days so were able to witness every visit first hand. They treated her with such care, respect & dignity and they looked after her as an individual person not just as another patient'. This relative went on to say 'They enabled her final wishes of wanting to be in her own home with her family around her possible.'

People told us they felt in control whilst receiving care from Platinum Plus. One relative said staff were very sensitive and would always check if the person was OK before providing care. We were also told that staff 'were always explaining what they were doing and were never rushed'. Other people were also grateful that staff took their time.

Relatives of people with dementia type illnesses spoke highly of the 'approach' that staff had when entering the room, and said 'they come into the room in a bright and breezy way which makes her smile and relax.' One relative said the provider had to visit the family in hospital and the response displayed by the person showed recognition and warmth.

People we spoke with said they, or their relatives felt the care was well coordinated between the agency and primary care staff. Relatives appreciated the knowledge of the providers in knowing how to speed up referrals or know who to contact regarding care. One relative commented that staff 'not only looked after her to the highest standard, they also liaised with the GP & district nurses, and supported us as a family during those incredibly difficult days which was invaluable.'

People told us they felt very safe being cared for by staff at the agency and all felt they could speak with the provider if they were unhappy or wanted to complain. One person added 'I can't imagine this ever happening, they all felt part of our family'. Healthcare professionals said that any hiccups were ironed out professionally to make sure people got the best service possible.

People told us that staff carry gloves and aprons in their cars and use them whilst they provide personal care. One person said 'I see them washing their hands quite a lot' whilst another relative said he was aware the providers did 'spot checks' to make sure staff were wearing their uniforms and gloves correctly.

One relative was particularly praiseworthy of the agency and had the opinion that this was due to, not only the quality of staff, but also the training and supervision staff received. We were told that staff were given enough time to travel between each person and were constantly monitored through spot checks and support. Other people talked of the spot checks but said 'the staff were good anyway.'