General Inpatient Information
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Top level
Hospital
Inpatient Information
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Author: Sue Piggott
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Publishing date: 22 August 2005 7:55pm
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All you need to know about the routine and the day to day services available to you in the hospital.
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Meals
The hospital menus are carefully planned to provide a selection of foods.
Upon admission Nursing Staff will document your dietary requirements. Catering Staff will visit you daily to check that your dietary requirements are met.
Meal Times
Meal hours are as follows:
Breakfast 0800am
Morning Tea 1000am
Lunch 12 noon
Afternoon Tea 1430pm
Dinner 1700pm
Supper 1900pm
Medication
As a hospital patient these are supplied without charge while you are in hospital. Bring with you to the hospital any tablets or medications you may be taking at the time. When you are discharged these drugs will be returned to you if required, however your doctor will normally provide prescription for any medications required on discharge from hospital.
Visiting Hours
Generally 11:00am – 8:00pm
As a matter of courtesy visitors should obtain permission from the registered nurse before visiting a patient.
Arrival in the Ward
Upon arrival you will be met by the nursing staff and details of the ward layout and services will be explained. You will be shown to your bed and asked to change into nightclothes. Your nurse will then record your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and weight and will ask for a specimen of urine for testing. Your nurse will record the details of your medical history and conduct a physical examination. You should inform your nurse of any medications and alternative therapy you have been taking at home and of any allergies you may have to antibiotics, medication or foods, and alert staff to any cultural preferences and aspects of your care.
Clergy
Patients are asked on admission if they wish to be visited by the clergy of their denomination. This service is entirely the choice of the patients.
Discharge
The date and time of your discharge from hospital will be arranged between the nursing staff, your doctor, yourself and your family. The most suitable time is at 10:00am.
Make sure that you discuss with hospital staff and your doctor all the points relating to your illness and ability to cope at home before you are discharged.
Please reclaim any items held in safekeeping by the hospital during office hours and take home any medications & x-rays you may have brought in with you.
DISCHARGE AT OWN RISK
Patients have the right to be discharged when they choose. However this should be taken with caution and may be a serious step when taken against the doctor’s advise. Should you decide to discharge yourself, against the advise of your doctor, you will be asked to sign a form disclaiming the hospital’s responsibility for your action. However, if your condition does not improve or if it causes you concern, you should not hesitate to seek further medication attention.
DISCHARGE PLANNING
Discharge planning aims to achieve smooth transition from hospital to home. Ideally, and to be most effective, discharge planning begins as soon after admission as possible. As the need arises, services such as dressings, support, equipment, Outreach Services, Home Care and Meals on Wheels are assessed and organised by the nurse. Should you require a medical certificate please ask your doctor so that it can be provided before you leave.
Donations
Donations are very important part of hospital revenue and are tax deductible. No matter how small, they are always welcome as such monies are used to purchase equipment and update patient amenities. Staff, however, cannot accept personal gifts or donations for their services.
Fire Safety
The hospital has a comprehensive Fire Safety programme. If you should see or smell smoke or fire, notify the nursing staff immediately and they will take the appropriate action.
Flowers
The care of patient’s flowers is the responsibility of the patient or their relatives. Vases are available on request. Water should be charged daily.
Hairdresser
Arrangements for hairdressing may be made with the hospital staff. This is provided by a private hairdressing service and the patient is responsible for payment.
Interpreter Services
The hospital staff wish to maintain good communications with patients who are unable to understand English. Please let your nurse know if you need assistance such as interpreter services. All information of a medical nature is treated with total confidentiality.
Leaving the Ward Area
You are asked to tell the registered nurse in charge before leaving the ward area as he/she is directly responsible for your safety whilst in the hospital’s care.
Personal Laundry
The hospital does not provide personal laundry service, so please make arrangements with your family or friends. Consideration will be given to extenuating circumstances.
Mail
Mail will be delivered to your bedside daily and personal mail can be posted through the Administration Office.
Medical Information
When relatives or friends phone the hospital enquiring about your condition, they are given only very general information. Your privacy is respected and you have the right to determine who should be informed of your condition.
Medical Records
Medial records are maintained on all matters relating to your illness and treatment. Information contained in these records is treated as confidential. Daily treatment notes are kept at the end of each patient’s bed and access can be discussed with the nursing staff on duty.
All medical records remain the property of the hospital. Access to these can be arranged through contact with the Medical Records Officer through the Freedom of Information Act.
Mobile Phones
Due to possible interference with sensitive patient monitoring equipment, the use of mobile phones is restricted in hospital buildings.
Nurse Call System
Do not hesitate to call on the nursing staff should you require assistance. The call button is on the bedside handset. It is only necessary to press the button once as the call registers in the nurse’s duty station until it is switched off at your bed.
Pain Relief
You should expect reasonable safety and comfort at all times, including adequate pain relief. Don’t suffer in silence. Be sure to tell staff if you are not comfortable or in pain.
Patient Identification
During your stay, an identification band will be attached to your wrist. Please check that the details are correct but do not remove the band during your stay in hospital.
Parking Facilities
A public car park is available at the front of the hospital. Use of car park facilities is at you own and visitor’s own risk. Parking facilities for the disabled are available as designated.
Patients Surveys
Patient Appreciation surveys are given to patients at each admission. Please complete prior to discharge and place in the suggestion box in the foyer or hand to any staff member.
Patients Contribution to Care
It would be helpful if you were able to convey details of your own and your family’s medical history including details relating to allergies, medications and past illnesses.
You are encouraged to discuss with your doctor all aspects of treatment planned or provided and either the expected result or results arriving out of that treatment. It is also important that you discuss with your doctor or nursing staff any concerns you may have regarding your treatment while in hospital or any personal problems that you feel may be affecting your recovery.
Smoking
Cigarettes are the greatest single cause of hospital fires and because of the incapacitated state of most patients, careless actions and disregard of smoking policies can have serious consequences. No smoking is allowed within the hospital.
Telephone
Telephones are installed at each bedside for incoming calls only. A public phone is situated in the foyer.
Television
Television rental can be organised with the nursing staff. A daily fee is charged. Patients are not permitted to bring their own televisions.
Treatments
During your stay in hospital certain procedures may need to be performed e.g. wound dressing, blood tests, E.C.G.s, etc. Please feel free to discuss these procedures with either your doctor or the nursing staff.
Valuables
It is advisable that patients do not bring valuables to the hospital, except change for newspapers and other small necessities. If you must bring valuables, ask the hospital staff to arrange safe custody and receipt will be issued to you. The hospital cannot accept responsibility for the loss or damage to any property you keep on your person or at your bedside.
Visitors
Visitors are encouraged as an important part of patient recovery. However, there are certain conditions which apply to visitors in this hospital. In general, visitors are requested to show consideration for patients they are visiting and for other patients in the hospital by behaving in a quiet manner and respecting any restrictions on visiting in respect to any patient. These restrictions are made solely for the benefit of the patient concerned.
All visitors are asked to check with nursing staff before going to visit patients. While waiting, visitors may sit in waiting room foyer.
Visitors are not permitted to smoke or to bring intoxicating liquor of any kind into the hospital building. Visitors are asked not to sit on patient’s beds. Also, as many patients are on special diets, visitors should check with the nursing staff before giving any drinks, food, sweets etc. to patients.
All children who are visiting the hospital should be supervised during their visit.
Alcohol
Hospital policy prohibits alcohol unless it is prescribed by your doctor.
Student and Work Experience Placements
This hospital allows for a number of work experience or student placements in the various departments. They can be identified by their identification badges. If you prefer not to have student staff involved in your care, please tell your nursing staff.
Ward Cleaning
During the day, ward cleaning is carried out by the hospital’s housekeeping staff who make every effort to minimise any noise and inconvenience to you.
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