Coming Into Hospital

We want your stay with us to be as comfortable as possible.

Things to bring with you may include: lightweight clothes for during the day, night wear; slippers; dressing gown; toiletries, including soap and shampoo; toothbrush; toothpaste/denture cleaner; newspapers; books, etc. Regrettably, a personal laundry service cannot be offered. 

We support the Dressed is Best initiative to help our patients get dressed and get moving, which aims to speed-up patients’ recovery and reduce the length of time people need to spend in hospital. 

A national NHS video and leaflet, ‘Simple steps to keep you safe during your hospital stay’ provides tips and advice on simple things patients can do to look after their safety during a hospital stay.

While the safety of patients is a priority for NHS staff, the video and leaflet provide advice on things patients can do themselves to help stay safe, such as wearing the right footwear to protect themselves from slips and falls, doing leg and ankle exercises to help prevent blood clots and washing hands to prevent the spread of infections.

Patients are encouraged to view the video and leaflet before coming into hospital, as these simple things can make a big difference to staying safe and well during their stay.

The video and leaflet can be found on the NHS England website.

To help us care for you efficiently, please:

• Bring all medications you are currently taking
• Include any documents or notes from your GP

This helps us:

Speed up both admission and discharge processes

Avoid delays in drug administration — especially critical for Parkinson’s and epilepsy patients

After your hospital doctor assesses you, your information can be:

• Sent home with your family
• Or safely stored on the ward
• On some wards, you may be offered the option to self-administer your medicines. All medication must still be handed over to the ward staff for safe storage.
  What We Provide:
• All necessary medications during your stay
• Safe disposal of unwanted medicines
• A week’s supply of medication at discharge, free of charge

On our wards you will see many different members of staff. If you are unsure who they are please ask them to introduce themselves. Most of our staff wear uniforms and all our staff wear a name badge.

The person in charge of your care and treatment is called a consultant, and he or she will have a group of doctors who work with them. While on the ward, a team of nursing staff, including both qualified (registered) nurses and health care assistants, directed by a ward manager, will help look after you throughout your stay.

TVs and radio facilities are provided in the wards. Hairdryers are available on most wards on request.

Please don`t bring TVs, radios, or computers, as any mains powered electrical equipment must be checked by a hospital electrician before use. Mobile phones are not allowed in some areas of the hospital, as these may interfere with fire alarms and some medical equipment.

Please do not keep large amounts of money, or valuables with you.

If you do have a large amount of money or valuables it is advisable to leave them with your relatives. If this is not possible, you should hand them to the ward staff for safekeeping. Your valuables will be placed in a red pouch with a numbered security seal and taken to the general office and locked in the hospital safe. They will be returned to you before your discharge, or on request if you wish. We will give you a receipt.

We cannot take responsibility for valuables or money not handed in for safekeeping during your stay in hospital.

During your stay in hospital, every effort will be made to respect your privacy and dignity at all times. Most of our wards are single sex, that is, for men or women only. We do have a few wards which are mixed but in these, men and women are nursed in separate areas and have separate toilet and washing facilities.

Our emergency department (A&E) needs to accommodate men and women in the same area but this is usually for a very short period of time.

If you have any concerns about accommodation in relation to single sex accommodation provision, please speak to the nurse in charge of the area.