Packing and personal belongings

Please bring the following items with you when you come into hospital:

• Soap and facecloth 
• Nightdress or pyjamas
• Underwear
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Dressing gown and slippers
• Brush and comb 
• Box or packet of tissues
• Shaving kit or electric razor 
• Small change for telephone
• Comfortable clothing

In your ward you have a bedside locker where you can keep your personal belongings. For your own security, do not bring valuables or large sums of money into hospital. The hospital can only accept responsibility for small amounts of cash or valuables which are officially handed over to ward staff for safe-keeping. A receipt will be given for this. The hospital cannot accept liability for loss or theft of items not handed over to ward staff, as responsibility for these items remains with the patient.

Personal medication

Please see the information about personal medication and bring all your medications with you.

On arrival

On arrival at the hospital please report to the Main Reception desk. The staff there will give you your admission documents and direct you to your ward.

Arrival at the ward

You will be welcomed by the ward receptionist or a member of nursing staff. Sometimes a bed may not be available for you immediately. If this is the case you may be asked to wait in the ward dayroom, and you will be kept informed of the situation. Very occasionally, admissions and operations may be postponed on the day they were scheduled due to unforeseen emergencies. If this does occur, another date for your admission / operation will be arranged as soon as possible.

A number of staff from the 'multi-disciplinary team', including doctors, nurses and therapists, may be involved in your care. Some of the staff will ask questions and take notes of your personal details to help them gain a clear picture of your problems. If you are unsure about anything concerning your care please ask a senior member of nursing staff or the doctors who will try to give you clear explanations to your questions. More information about how your care is planned and about the staff who may be involved in your care can be found in the ward information booklet at your bedside.

When you are admitted to hospital, the ward nurse responsible for your care may refer you to the liaison nurse. Liaison nurses work closely with the ward, medical and nursing staff, district nurses, health visitors, social services and other members of the multi-disciplinary team (e.g. Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and any other healthcare professionals who have been or may be involved in your care). When you are discharged from hospital you may need support from the community nursing staff or social services. The ward and liaison nurses will help to ensure that arrangements are in place for your discharge from hospital.

Consent to treatment

Your medical care is supervised by a consultant who has other doctors to help him or her. It is important that you should understand the nature of any treatment or operation which is to be carried out. This will be explained to you by a doctor and if you are to have an operation you will be asked to sign a consent form.

Questions

Clinical Teaching

Dr Gray's Hospital is a teaching hospital, training medical, nursing, pharmacy and paramedical staff. Please help by allowing them to participate in your care. If you do not wish students to be present, please let a member of staff know.

Information for patients who require an anaesthetic

Please see our information for patients who require an anaesthetic

Controlling infection - how you can help

Everyone has a role to play in helping prevent the spread of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI). NHS staff are doing a great deal, but we can't overcome these problems without the involvement of patients and the public.

How you can help - as a patient

• Don't be afraid to remind staff to wash or disinfect their hands before and after carrying out any examination or treatment

• Don't remove or touch dressings or wound areas

• Wash your hands after going to the toilet

• Ask staff if you have any questions or concerns about controlling infection

• Remind relatives and friends not to visit you if they have any signs or symptoms of illness, and ask them to read this information

If you have any further concerns please feel free to contact the Infection Control Team on 01224 550998.

Unauthorised photography, filming or recording

Contacting the ward

If Hospedia is available, you and your friends and family can keep in touch by using the Hospedia personal bedside telephone number. Hospedia gives you access to a telephone, TV, email and the internet. For further information please visit the Hospedia website.

The ward staff will give you the ward's direct dial number. This will allow your family to contact the ward directly without going through the hospital operator. They can also telephone 0345 456 6000 and ask the hospital operator for the ward and hospital they would like to contact. Please note that due to confidentiality, staff can only give out limited information over the phone.

Telephone enquiries

We appreciate that your relatives and friends will be anxious to learn of your progress by telephone. However, it would save considerable staff time if calls were limited to immediate members of the family. If possible, one person only should call on behalf of the family.

Other useful information

Please see our additional information that you may find useful