Staying in hospital
If you stay in hospital for one night or more for tests, medical treatment or surgery, you are treated as an inpatient. You will be involved in all decisions regarding your treatment throughout your stay in hospital.
We know that people are sometimes anxious about coming to hospital – this section hopes to make you feel more at ease about your stay and give you a better understanding of what to expect.
Items that should be brought into hospital
When getting ready to come into hospital, you might find the following list helpful when you are packing your bag.
It’s also a good idea to check your admissions letter to make sure you have included any additional items not listed here that you’ve been asked to bring in;
- Medications you take at home including herbal remedies and current prescription list
- Toiletries e.g. soap / shower gel / shampoo / shaving kit
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Dentures
- Well fitting footwear whilst on the ward
- Nightwear e.g. pyjamas / underwear / dressing gown
- Clothes to wear during the day/clothes to go home in including shoes
- Books / magazines / newspaper
- Hearing aid / walking aid / glasses.
Items to not bring into hospital
There is also a list of other items that shouldn't be brought into hospital;
- Valuables e.g. large amount of money / jewellery / expensive technology
- Flowers
- Food that requires temperature regulation
- Large bag / cases.
We will provide you with a small bedside locker for your clothes and other belongings but we cannot accept responsibility for any items lost during your stay.
If you are expecting to be in hospital for a while and normally receive a pension, benefit or allowance please contact your benefits office to let them know about your stay.
On the day that you are due to come in to hospital please check your admissions letter for the time you need to come into hospital.
If you get a cough or cold and are not sure whether you should come in, phone the number on your admissions letter for advice.
On arrival, you will be given more information about the people and procedures involved in your care. Please let the nurse know if you have any special requirements such as a disability, sight or hearing impairment, speech impairment or cultural needs.
All patients are given a wrist band which must be worn at all times as it has important information about you for staff. Please inform a member of staff if you lose or damage your wrist band.
Before your treatment starts, your doctor or consultant will come and see you to check how you are and to discuss your treatment in more detail. If you have any more questions or concerns at this point, speak to your doctor or consultant so that they can help. You may be asked to sign a consent form if you are due to undergo a procedure which requires an anaesthetic or may have significant side effects or complications to confirm you have understood the details given to you by the doctor or consultant and that you consent to them treating you.
A relative or friend can come with you and can stay with you while you are admitted. If you are a day patient and are having any form of sedation, we recommend that you arrange for someone to take you home.
We hope your stay with us will be as comfortable as possible. We will do everything we can to ensure that you have everything you need.
For patients staying overnight and longer, we provide a wide range of catering services to suit your needs. Our menus have been designed to offer a selection of nutritional meals which cater for all dietary needs. If you have a special dietary requirement you should let the nursing staff know.
Mealtimes on the wards are protected which means all non-urgent clinical tasks stop for a period of time so that patients can eat their meals in peace, with support if they need it, without being interrupted.
Essentially meals are served between the following times:
- 7am to 8:30am
- 12:15pm to 1:30pm
- 5:15pm to 6:30pm
Medicine rounds commence at approximately:
Eat, Drink, Dress and Move to Improve
While recovering in hospital, it’s common for patients to lack appetite or drink less, and as they lie in bed their movement is often reduced/restricted. This combination of factors can hamper recovery, with overall outcomes negatively affected.
‘Eat, Drink, Dress, Move to Improve’ (EDDMI) is an initiative led by a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and nurses – which encourages patients to keep active, and stay well-nourished and hydrated throughout their stay. The approach relies on the involvement of the whole ward team – from nurses to doctors, allied health professionals (AHPs), support workers and more.
We encourage where possible that patients to get dressed in day wear and to use pyjamas for at night.
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