Staying with us

Planned procedures

If you are admitted to hospital for a planned procedure or operation, please arrive at the time on your letter. It’s important to arrive on time so that you can be seen by your anaesthetist and surgeon before your procedure.

Our access lounges are small so we ask that only one relative, friend or carer comes with you.

When you arrive in the access lounge:

• Staff will show you to your room
• A nurse will check your details and ask you to change into a theatre gown
• You will be given a plastic identity bracelet showing your name, date of birth and hospital number. Please make sure your details are correct and wear your bracelet at all times while you’re in hospital. It is an extra safeguard to make sure staff can identify you
• The clothes you arrived in will be placed in a bag, labelled and taken to the ward where you will stay after your operation
• Your relative, friend or carer will be told which ward you will be taken to and will be given a contact number

Your surgeon and anaesthetist will come see you before your operation. Feel free to ask them any questions – our staff want to make sure you are fully informed and have no worries.

You might find that you are asked the same questions more than once. This is not unusual and is part of our careful checking system to make sure everything goes smoothly.

After an operation

After your operation, you will be taken to your ward and greeted by one of the nurses who will look after you while you recover.

They will show you to your bed or waiting area and make sure you’re comfortable.

Each ward in our hospitals has its own daily routine, for example mealtimes or the time of your doctor’s ward round. The ward’s routine will be fully explained by one of your nurses so you know what to expect during your stay.

Simple steps to keep you safe

While you are in hospital, keeping you safe and well is a priority for the staff looking after you. There are also some simple things you can do to help keep yourself safe during your hospital stay, such as asking for help when needed, protecting yourself from slips and falls and helping to prevent blood clots.

The NHS England national patient safety team have created a video and leaflet providing tips on keeping yourself safe during your hospital stay which can be accessed using the link below:

What happens if you’re admitted as an emergency?

You might need to be admitted to hospital in the case of an emergency. You will be referred by your GP or our accident and emergency departments.

What to expect:

• You will be seen and assessed by our emergency assessment unit. Doctors and nurses will then start a treatment plan for you
• You will be moved onto an appropriate ward with a team of doctors led by a consultant
• Within 24 hours of admission, staff will start to plan and talk through your discharge (going home) plan with you

You will be cared for primarily by your consultant, medical team, nurses and healthcare assistants.

However, depending on your needs, other healthcare professionals may also be involved in your treatment. These can include:

• Allied healthcare professionals (for example, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dietitians)
• Radiologists (X-ray)
• Pharmacists
• Pathologists (for example, to examine a blood or urine sample)

During your stay, you might want to leave your ward for a short time. For example, to go to the shop or spirituality centre. If you would like a short trip out, please check with your nurses before leaving and let them know when you have returned.

WiFi, telephones, TV and radio

We have plenty of facilities to keep you entertained and in touch with your loved ones during your hospital stay.

WiFi

Our Trust has free WiFi throughout our hospitals to help you keep in touch with your loved ones during your stay.

To log in, simply search for the network ‘NHS Wi-Fi’ on your phone or tablet and follow the instructions on the screen.

Phones

You are allowed to bring a mobile phone and phone charger to hospital with you. However, we can only accept responsibility for items handed over to us for safekeeping.

If you do not have a mobile or would prefer not to bring it, payphones can be found throughout our hospitals. They are for outgoing calls only and charge at normal rates.

Hospedia

Most beds in our hospitals have a bedside unit called Hospedia. This has internet and a telephone so you can keep in touch with your family and friends however you prefer. It also has a television and radio built in to keep you entertained during your stay.

Some services on Hospedia are free of charge. These include:

• 24 hour radio
• TV for children aged 16 and under
• Meal ordering service
• Incoming phone calls
• Answering machine

For any other services, you will need to pay. You can do this by buying top-up cards from our vending machines with cash or paying by phone with debit or credit card.

Call rates may vary for outgoing calls to UK landline and mobile phone numbers. Please call the Hospedia operator free of charge for the current standard charge rate. The operator is available 24 hours a day.

For more information about charge rates and the services available, please visit Hospedia’s website.

Infection prevention and control

We take infection prevention and control very seriously to make sure we are giving our patients the best possible care in the best possible environment.

To help us achieve this staff, patients and visitors need to work together.

Find out more about our infection prevention policies and how you can help us and our patients out.

Your information, your rights

Information about your treatment and care will normally be something that you will talk about with healthcare professionals.

However, for every inpatient and outpatients at our hospitals, data is stored on computer systems and added to medical records. This means that medical staff can make informed decisions about the best treatment for your condition or illness.

It is vital that this information is accurate so that we can treat you in the future. We keep all of our records secure and access is only allowed to specific members of staff.