Introduction

Admission procedures sometimes vary between wards, it is therefore important to read your admission letter, and follow the information given. Most wards will ask patients to telephone on the day of admission to make sure that a bed is available just in case the bed has been taken by an emergency patient.

When you Arrive

When you arrive at the hospital, please go straight to your ward or check-in at the place indicated on your admission letter. If you are unsure, please ask at reception in the main concourse or reception at the Eye Infirmary. When you arrive on the ward, you should hand any medicines you have brought with you to the nurse who checks you in. If you have a Single Assessment Document or care plan, please remember to bring this with you.

A member of the ward staff will welcome you and show you where to go. A named nurse will be allocated to you and a doctor or  nurse practitioner will take your medical history and examine you. A team of people will be involved in your care, for example, doctors, nurses, therapists and radiographers. In most cases, your consultant (a senior doctor) has overall responsibility for your medical care while you are in hospital. If you have any questions about your condition or treatment, then please ask one of the team of doctors, nurses or therapists caring for you.

Identity Bracelets

A nurse will give you a hospital identity bracelet with your name and details on it. Please wear this all of the time you are in hospital. It is an important part of our safety procedures such as checking you are given the right medications.

Ward Teams

You will be given the name of the nurse who will be responsible for co-ordinating your nursing care during your stay. Other health care staff will also help with your care. At the start of every shift you can expect the nurse who will be looking after you to introduce her / himself, so you always know who to call. On the ward you will see many different members of staff. If you’re not sure who they are, please ask them to explain. All staff should wear a badge with a photograph, their name and their job title. You are likely to meet the following staff:

• Matron – wears a grey dress or tunic with a distinctive red trim
• Ward Manager – wears a navy dress or tunic (female) or a white tunic with navy blue epaulettes (male)
• Trained nurse (female) – wears a light blue dress or light blue tunic
• Trained nurse (male) – wears a white tunic and light blue epaulettes
• Health Care Assistant – wears a fawn dress or tunic and trousers
• Other members of the ward team, including physiotherapists (white polo shirts with navy blue trousers), speech therapists, occupational therapists (white tunic with green trousers) dieticians, pharmacists, ward cleaners, porters and clerks.