This information is designed to help you prepare for a visit to our hospital. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff.

What to bring into hospital

• Comfortable clothes, footwear and underwear
• Nightwear and toiletries
• Spectacles and hearing aids, if worn
• Shaving kit or electric razor, where necessary
• Small amount of money for incidentals

Please do not bring large amounts of money or valuable items

When you come into hospital, you can hand over your cash or valuable items to the nurse in charge of your ward for safekeeping. The nurse will give you a receipt. The hospital is not responsible for cash or valuables which have not been handed over for safekeeping.

Unauthorised photography, filming or recording

Medicines

If you have brought medicines with you please hand them to the nurse on admission. This includes all prescribed medicines and also any non-prescribed medicines which have been bought such as pain killers, cough and cold remedies, antihistamines, indigestion remedies, antidiarrhoeals, laxatives, herbal and homeopathic medicines.

Any medicines which you still require will be returned to you on discharge. Please do not take any other medicines while in hospital without first consulting a member of nursing staff.

Teaching and research

Our hospitals train doctors, nurses and other staff. The hospital is also involved in research which will help to improve the care and treatment of patients with mental health problems. You might be asked to help in this teaching and research. If you do not wish to take part, please tell your consultant or named nurse. This will not affect your care or treatment. Even if you do agree to help, you may change your mind at any time.

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.

Contacting the ward

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.

Hospedia (formerly Patientline®)

Hospedia is available as an option to patients on some of our wards.  This Bedside TV and Phone Service lets you make and receive phone calls from your bedside.  Family and friends can call you directly at your bedside, using your personal Hospedia number.  If you have to move to a different ward during your stay, your Hospedia account moves with you. 

You will receive information on using Hospedia when you enter hospital.  Information leaflets are also available in public areas of the hospitals.

The Hospedia system also gives you access to more than 20 TV channels, a selection of films to watch on-demand, a selection of radio channels, internet and e-mail facilities and a selection of games. 

A number of the services provided are available free of charge while some require payment.  For those services which need payment, there are a variety of different bundles to choose from.  Options available for purchasing credit are as follows:

• Purchase a paycard with cash from the vending machine (these have been installed in public areas throughout the hospitals).
  
  
• Using your credit/debit card by picking up a bedside phone and chatting with our Customer Care Team.
  
  
• Pre-register by calling 0845 414 1234.  
  
  Our Customer Care Team will be happy to offer advice on packages most suitable for your length of stay. You will be given your personal telephone number so that friends and family can get in touch with you during your stay - directly at your bedside. You can pre-pay for your packages from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Friends and Family can call our Customer Care Team on the above number at any time to top up your service. On admission to hospital simply pick up the phone and press the Operator button and our team can activate your TV/Phone in a matter of seconds with your personal number and credit ready to use.

Every TV has instructions to show you how to get started, and if you get require assistance or need advice just pick up the phone, follow the instructions, and you'll be connected (free of charge) to Hospedia's Customer Care Team (available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year).

Headphones are available at each bed side, however, you may use your own if you prefer.

Children's Hospital has free TV from 7am - 7pm, however Internet is not available on Children's wards.

If you would like more information, or to read Hospedia'sTerms and Conditions, please go to www.hospedia.com, call 0845 44 1234, or pick up a leaflet from one of Hospedia's vending machines.

Patients' rights and standards of care

Please see our information about patients' rights and standards of care.