If you’re staying in hospital as an inpatient you’ll be made comfortable and be cared for by our dedicated teams.
On arrival to the ward you will be shown your allocated bed space, the bathroom and toilet facilities and given a call bell to contact staff as required. The board above your bed will state your name, the consultant leading your care and your named nurse. It will also include any special instructions personal to you.
Our nurses will speak with you regularly to address any worries or concerns you may have, however please discuss any concerns you have with them at anytime.
What to bring
You will have a small locker next to your bed or chair for your personal possessions. Storage space is limited, but where possible, please bring with you or have brought in for you:
- Any prescribed tablets and medication that you usually take at home. Please give these to a nurse. The doctor will prescribe all the tablets and medicines that you need while you are in hospital, as well as any you need when you return home. If you have a card detailing any current treatment, particularly a steroid card or Warfarin booklet, please bring this with you and inform one of the nurses.
- Pyjamas or a nightdress, and a bed jacket, cardigan or dressing gown.
- Slippers or shoes that fit properly, to avoid slips or falls during your stay in hospital. Further information about reducing the risk of falling while in hospital is available; please discuss this with your nurse.
- Toiletries, including a hairbrush or comb, soap or a soap substitute, toothbrush, toothpaste or denture cleaner, and any shaving equipment needed.
- Loose or comfortable day clothes.
- Money for the television and phone system by your bedside.
- Your most recently prescribed spectacles or contact lenses (including cleaning fluid), any hearing aids and denture box.
- Any addresses or telephone numbers that you might need.
What not to bring
Please do not bring:
- Large amounts of money or valuables, such as jewellery or electronic devices etc.
- Alcohol or any illegal or non-prescription drugs.
- Large amounts of perishable foods.
We recommend that you ask a relative to take home any money or valuables you have on you when you are admitted to hospital. We will ask you to sign a property and valuables disclaimer on your admission as part of the admission documentation process. We are unable to accept any liability for loss, theft or damage to personal property or money unless it has been handed in for safe custody and an official receipt obtained.
We are smoke free
Smoking, vaping or using e-cigarettes is not allowed anywhere on any trust site, including in outside areas or in vehicles, to protect the health of the people using and working in our services. If you need assistance to stop smoking please speak to a member of staff who can refer you to the appropriate service. Find out more.
Your bed
We aim to accommodate all our patients in same sex wards. This may not apply if you are coming in for day surgery or minor procedures, or in areas that require specialised care for example the cardiac unit and intensive care unit.
There may be occasions when the only bed available is in a mixed sex area. Every effort will be made to find an appropriate bed in a single sex area as soon as possible dependent on your clinical requirements.
It may be necessary to move you to a different bed in the same ward or to a different ward at varying times of the day or night. Moving patients at night is only done in an emergency.
We look at the needs of all patients when making these decisions and we will discuss with you prior to any move. Where a patient experiences disorientation we will aim to keep moves to a minimum.
Meal times and trolley services
We support protected meal times. Protected meal times mean that we can help patients who may need assistance with eating and drinking and maintain privacy and dignity. We appreciate your support in asking your friends and relatives to only visit during visiting times.
We understand that family members may wish to visit during meal times to help you eat, if this is needed. Please speak to the nurse in charge of your care or area. If you have any dietary requirements, please speak to the nursing staff and they will assist you.
A regular trolley service, with a selection of newspapers, magazines and confectionery, is available on most wards.
Television, telephone and radio services
In most wards there is a bedside television, radio and telephone system called Hospedia. To use this service you will need to pay via the bedside unit. Hospedia gives you access to many television and radio stations and a dedicated telephone number. Your friends and relatives will be able to call you directly (charges apply).
Hospedia is a private company which provides this service and they set the charges, including the cost of incoming and outgoing calls.
Our hospital radio services provide a variety of programmes, free of charge, including daily request shows.
Going home from hospital
The plan for your discharge from hospital will start on your admission to hospital. We will involve you and, with your consent, your family, carers or friends as appropriate. On the day of your discharge any medicines you need will be prescribed by the doctor and dispensed by the hospital pharmacy or the ward/unit area. However, if your medication has not been changed and you have a supply at home, please inform the nurses as this may speed up the discharge process for you and allow you to be discharged earlier.
If your medication is not in stock then you may be issued with a prescription to obtain from a pharmacy.
On the day of discharge you may be transferred to a discharge lounge to wait for your transport home or for your medication. The discharge lounge is staffed by nursing staff who can care for all your needs while you are there.