Visitors

Visiting times are: - 3.00pm - 4.30pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Visiting outside these hours is at the discretion of the nurse in charge. When visiting we suggest close family only, with no more than two visitors per bed at any one time please.

As the ward can often be quite busy we discourage children visiting, particularly in the Coronary Care Unit. However admission of children will again be at the discretion of the nurse in charge and may vary from day to day. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Visiting restrictions are necessary because as a patient you will need rest, and the nursing / medical teams need to carry out everyday routine procedures, many of which are performed in the morning.

Going Home

Please let us know if you foresee any problems that may delay your discharge home or if you are uncertain of anything relating to your condition. The nursing staff will provide you with information about what you should do when you go home.

You may be discharged home with tablets which will be dispensed from our pharmacy. This can take up to 5 hours to process so you will be asked to use the hospital's Discharge Waiting Area in the meantime.

Cleanliness and Infections in Hospital

Some people are admitted to hospital with infections that require them to be cared for away from other patients to prevent the spread of that particular infection. Please follow the instructions given to you by staff.

You will be nursed in a single room, the door may need to remain closed, depending on the nature of your infection. Please pay particular attention to hand washing and general cleanliness at all times, especially when leaving the room.

If you have been in contact with chickenpox, measles or mumps within 3 weeks of your admittance to hospital, please inform a member of staff.

We ask that visitors suffering from minor infections such as a cold, avoid visiting if possible, for their sake as well as the patients. We do not recommend babies being brought in to visit, again for their own protection.

Hand washing. The most common means by which infection is transmitted is by hand, therefore handwashing is a very basic, yet vital infection control measure. Alcohol hand gel is kept at the entrance of the ward and at each bedside for all the visitors to use before and after visiting. For hygienic hand disinfection apply 3ml (3 shots) to physically clean hands for 30 seconds ensuring all areas are covered, until dry.

Visitors are requested not to sit on patients beds, this is to help minimise the risk of spread of infection and for other health and safety reasons. For more information on Cleanliness and Infection click here

Please be aware that the Trust is now a smoke free NHS. Smoking is not permitted in any building or within the grounds of any of our sites. Information and support is available to any patients who wish to stop smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available to help reduce your cravings during your stay.