What to expect during your stay

Before you come to hospital, please check your admissions letter for the time you need to be there.

When you arrive, you will be provided with information about next steps, as well as about the team involved in your care.

Please let a member of the team know if you have any additional requirements, such as a disability, sight or hearing impairment, speech impairment, or any cultural needs.

All patients are given a wristband which you must wear at all times for staff to see, as it includes important information about you. Please tell a member of staff if you lose or damage your wristband.

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.

You may be asked to sign a consent form if your procedure requires anaesthetic (you ned to be put to sleep), or if there is any risk of side effects or complications. This is to confirm that you understand the information you have been given, and that you agree to proceed.

A family member or friend can come with you and be there while you are admitted. If you are a day patient and are having any 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.

More information for anybody who wants to visit you during your stay can be found in our Visiting a Patient section. We understand that your loved ones will want to call the ward and find out how you are. To help keep the phone free for urgent things, it’s a good idea for one person in the family to call us and keep everyone else informed.

During your care with us, you have the choice to be involved in a research study as part of your care. Your doctor or a member of the team looking after you may talk to you and ask if you would like to join a study.

You will be given written information about the study and you will be encouraged to ask questions and be given time to think about what is involved. You will then be contacted again to confirm if you would like to take part.

You don’t have to wait to be asked to take part in research; we would encourage you to ask your doctor or member of their team, if there is any research you can take part in.

Find out more about research.

For patients staying overnight or longer, we provide a wide range of catering services to suit your needs.

Our menus are designed to offer a selection of healthy and nutritious meals, which cater to all dietary requirements. If you have any special dietary requests, please let a member of the nursing team know.

Mealtimes on the wards are protected, which means all non-urgent clinical tasks stop. That means patients can eat their meals without interruption, and with support if needed.

Meals are served between the following times:

• 7am-8.30am
• 12.15pm-1.30pm
• 5.15pm-6.30pm

Medicine rounds take place around:

• 8am
• 12noon
• 2pm
• 6pm
• 10pm

While recovering in hospital, it’s common for patients to not feel like eating or to drink less, and as they lie in bed their movement is often reduced or restricted. This can delay recovery.

‘Eat, Drink, Dress, Move to Improve’ (EDDMI) is an initiative that encourages patients to keep active, and stay well-nourished and hydrated throughout their stay. The whole ward team is involved – from nurses and doctors to allied health professionals (AHPs), support workers and more.

One simple but effective way that you can help is to get dressed in daywear and keep your pyjamas for the nighttime.