First of all, just ensure that your date of admission is still convenient for you to come in and, if you've got a problem, don't worry - ring the number on your letter and explain the difficulty. Then on the day of admission we will contact you before you come in to hospital to confirm that a bed is still available for you.
What do you need to bring?
Your letter will have all the details but it's mostly the daily things you'll need like nightwear, toiletries, books and the medicines you take at home. To be on the safe side it's best not to bring in valuables or large amounts of money. Staff will need contact numbers for relatives and details of your doctor, though, so do bring these with you.
Where do you go when you're coming into hospital?
The hospital campus is large and may seem confusing but the main reception is well-signposted and easy to find and staff there will be happy to direct you to your ward. When you reach your ward a receptionist or nurse will meet you.
What happens then?
You'll be given a bracelet with your name on to wear all the time you’re in hospital. This is a simple check for staff to ensure you're getting the right treatment and medication. You'll be told which nurse is mainly responsible for your care but please tell staff which medicines you usually take and if you have any allergies. Staff are there to help you, so if you need someone to deal with your benefits, pensions or allowances while you're in hospital - or if you need an in-patient certificate for your employer – just let a member of staff know.
What's it like on the ward?
Wards are busy places but they are dedicated to you, the patient. They are divided into small areas called bays and are for women-only or men-only. You'll have a locker for your things and each day you'll be given a menu and asked to choose the meals you would like. If you’re having an operation there will be forms to sign to say you agree but if you are feeling at all confused or worried about your treatment or care do talk to staff about it at any time.
Mixed Sex Wards
During your stay at the Royal Bolton Hospital, every effort will be made to respect your privacy and dignity at all times. In some of our wards we nurse only women or only men. On those wards which are mixed, men and women are nursed in separate areas and have access to separate toilet and washing facilities.
There are some areas such as Intensive and Coronary Care where we may have to accommodate men and women in the same area because of specialised clinical need. If you are in these areas we would like to reassure you that safeguarding your privacy and dignity is the highest priority for all our staff.
If you have any anxieties regarding this type of accommodation please let the nurse know who is responsible for your care.
Who will come to see you?
There is always plenty of coming and going of staff on the wards. Nurses work in shifts and they’ll usually come round to see you at the start of each shift for a quick chat. There is a sister or charge nurse who looks after each ward, plus other nurses and healthcare assistants who all wear different uniforms. Your doctor will also come to see you to discuss your care and what is happening to you. Sometimes students are involved in your care because they need to learn, but if you don’t want this just tell your doctor or nurse - it's not a problem.
When I am on a ward, can I receive calls directly and can I ring out? What other facilities are available by my bed?
Keeping in touch with friends and family is important to patients’ wellbeing but not everyone wants their own phone line. So there are some pay phones around the hospital and also trolleys with pay phones on most wards.
Most beds have Patientline services which include a phone, TV and radio. You register for this service and buy cards to operate it, available from vending machines close to wards or at the WRVS shops. Children receive free TV from Patientline. The service gives you terrestrial TV channels with headphones, free radio (including hospital radio run by the Bolton Lions who also take music requests via cards on the ward) and a telephone line.
Calls from the hospital are no more expensive than a BT payphone but incoming calls are charged at a premium rate so it's worth relatives and friends knowing this beforehand.
What happens when you leave hospital?
It can sometimes be daunting going home when you are recovering from an illness or operation. So arrangements can be made for help at home if you need it. Please tell the nurse in charge of the ward if you’re worried about this. Ask a relative or friend to bring outdoor clothes for you the evening before you leave and arrange for someone to collect you, unless there is a special reason for you to have an ambulance. When you leave make sure you’ve got all the medicines you need and any appointments you are to attend in the future.
It may be that, although you are ready to leave hospital, you have not enough confidence to return home again immediately or you need to be helped towards more independence. In that case there is a system called Intermediate Care which offers further recovery and rehabilitation.
This can provide help in a residential setting for a few weeks or it can be provided in your own home. It will always be arranged only after full discussion with you and, if appropriate, your family or carers. If you want to know more about residential Intermediate Care or intermediate care at home, ask ward staff while you are a patient and they can arrange for someone to come for a chat.