Staying at Broadgreen

Before you are admitted

If you can, contact the ward before you are admitted to find out our policies on:

• Visits
• Friends and relatives bringing in food
• Use of personal electronics (including mobile phones, TV and telephones)

Coming in to our hospitals

What to bring

Most hospital wards are comfortably warm so please take this into account when packing clothes for your stay. Storage space is limited, so pack sparingly and bring a small bag.

Here is a list of items that you need to consider bringing, depending on how long you are likely to stay.

• All medicines, including inhalers, creams, eye drops etc that you are taking in their original packaging - not in a dosett or nomad box. Your nurse will instruct you on which of your medicines you can continue to take whilst in hospital.
• Nightwear
• Dressing gown
• Slippers, or lightweight, comfortable shoes that are easy to put on or take off
• Daywear - comfortable clothes
• Spectacles and hearing aid, if relevant
• Underwear and socks or stockings/tights
• Walking aids - frames, sticks, crutches
• Toiletries - towel, shaving kit, flannel or sponge, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and shampoo
• Denture box and cleaner, if relevant
• Hairbrush or comb
• Deodorant
• Sanitary towels or tampons if necessary
• Tissues/freshening wipes
• Books, magazines, pens and paper
• Money for newspapers, telephones and Patientline
• Bottle of squash

You will have a small bedside cabinet for your personal items with a lockable cupboard for your medicines (your nurse will hold the key for this).

We strongly advise that you do not bring in jewellery or large sums of money. If this can't be helped, please hand such items to the ward staff. Your valuables will be locked in a safe and you will be given a receipt for them.

The Trust is not liable and does not take responsibility for loss or damage to your personal property.

During your stay

Ward routine - meal times

On the ward you will be served three meals a day at the following times:

• 7.30am - 9am
• 12noon - 1pm
• 5pm - 6pm

You'll be asked to order your meals from a menu. After breakfast you will be asked to choose your lunch and then during the afternoon you will select your evening meal. The meals will be served by a service host/hostess and ward staff. If you have any special dietary needs, please tell the ward staff on your admission.

Our menu includes a range of cultural food options and menu with photographs are available. If you require support with eating please let staff know to make the necessary arrangements. Throughout the day you can expect to be offered a choice of hot and cold drinks, along with a selection of snacks such as biscuits, cakes, cheese and crackers.

Doctors' rounds

You'll be looked after by a team of doctors led by a consultant. Make a note of their name, in case anyone needs to know. On certain days the whole team will see you during what's known as the 'consultant ward round' and you'll usually have daily visits from at least one member of the team.

These visits aren't just for them to tell you things - they're an opportunity for you to tell them how you're feeling and ask any questions you may have.

Whenever a healthcare professional comes to see you during your stay, they should explain what they're doing or plan to do. If they don't - or you don't understand what they've said - don't be afraid to ask them to explain.

As a teaching hospital, we train student doctors on the rounds. If at any time you'd prefer they weren't present during your examination, just say so. No one will mind.

Medicine Rounds

Nursing staff will wear tabards during the medicine round. This is to highlight they should not be interrupted to reduce the risk of error. Please do use your buzzer if you require any assistance at these times, there will be other staff available to respond to your needs.

Going home

Please ensure:

• You have all your medication you need, plus a copy of your discharge prescription and a full understanding of the dosage and how and when to take it. You will usually be discharged with a supply of your medication and you will need to contact your GP before you need more
• You understand all the arrangements that may have been made with other agencies such as community nursing, therapies, social services, on your behalf and they have been discussed and agreed with by you
• If needed, you can obtain a medical certificate (fit note) from the nursing staff or ward clerk
• You have an outpatient appointment made if necessary, this may be posted out to you
• Transport home has been arranged if needed
• You have adequate clothing for your journey home
• You have collected any possessions left with the staff for safekeeping
• You return all hospital property before you leave
• The ward clerk has signed the appropriate forms if you are in a Medicash scheme
• If you are going home by ambulance, you will have sent all your belongings home beforehand. The ambulance service is only able to carry one piece of luggage with you.

It is worth noting that there may be a short delay while your discharge is arranged. It is usually best not to arrange transport, especially taxis, until told to do so by a member of the nursing team as you may have to wait for your medication.

Driving safely

It is possible your condition may temporarily or permanently affect your fitness to drive. Please check with your doctor whether you can drive following discharge or how long you should wait before driving again.

DisabledGo together with the Trust has supplied a number of guides with detailed access information to our facilities including shops, departments, wards and more. You can view them all here.