Welcome to the Neurology and Stroke Unit Information for patients/relative/carer
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Dear Patient/Relative I have put together some information and some common questions about the Neurology and Stroke Unit at the New Pinderfields Hospital. Please do not hesitate to ask any of the nursing team if you have queries or concerns. Kind regards, Alison Sharp Senior Sister General Information The unit opened on 22 nd June 2010 to become a 34 bedded Neurology and Stroke Unit with a day case facility for treatments and investigations. We have seven 4- bedded bays and 6 side rooms. All side rooms have ensuite facilities. If I am a visitor, how will I get there? Relatives/carers A map is available on the hospital intranet site (www.midyorks.nhs.uk) or on the ward to show you the hospital entrance and car parks designated for patients and visitors. As you enter the main entrance it will bring you into the main Atrium, which is Floor B. In front of you there are lifts and a set of stairs. Go down 1 floor to Floor A. There is a sign pointing you to the direction of the Neurology and Stroke Unit which is located at Gate 2. There is a doorbell at the entrance of the ward which will be answered and then you will be directed to the location of the patient you are visiting. Please note, patients can be moved beds during their stay to accommodate fellow patient s needs. 3
What are the visiting times? The visiting times are: 2.30pm 4.30 pm and 6pm 7.30 pm. There are 2 visitors chairs allocated to each bed they will be situated in each 4 bedded bay or each side room. For this reason we will need to stick strictly to the 2 visitors to a bed policy so relatives will need to liaise with each other for staggering visiting times. We also ask that relatives stick to visiting times to allow for consultant rounds, therapy sessions meal times and rest periods. Visiting out of allocated times must be negotiated with your nursing teams or myself, Alison Sharp. Please return your visitors chairs to the allocated area and dispose of any items in the black domestic waste bins found in each bay/ side room. There are yellow clinical waste bins for staff to use in other areas. In the interest of infection control we ask all visitors to use the hand gel machines provided on entry and exit to the ward. Visitors are also requested not to sit on patients beds. Visiting is also not permitted if you are unwell and you must refrain from visiting for 48 hours post any viral diarrhoea and vomiting bug, so that vulnerable patients are protected. Facilities for patients and visitors? As we are on Floor A, we have 2 outside areas, accessed via the dining room as you enter the ward and the day room located in the middle of the ward. Weather permitting patients/visitors will be able to access this area. There may be occasions when these doors are locked, for patient safety. Please see a member of staff if access is required. 4
Visitor toilets - your nearest toilets are located near the restaurant on floor B. The restaurant, WH Smith and the coffee shop can be accessed by patients and visitors. Telephone calls and information As the ward area is large it will not be practical for the nurse to come to the phone every time a relative rings as this takes them away from patient care. The clerical staff will be updated regularly on patient s conditions and will be able to give you some information. However, we will of course update you as appropriate during visiting times. The day room located in the middle of the ward is currently being developed as an information resource room and it has information in it relating to different conditions, you are welcome to take any of these leaflets if you can t find what you are looking for please see a member of staff. Meal times Breakfast will be served from 8:00 am Lunch at 12:30 noon Tea time 5.00 pm All meals will be served in the dining area located near the entrance of the ward (patient ability allowing), where a menu system is used for meal choices. Meal times in hospital are protected so visiting is not permitted. However, patients who require assistance to eat and drink can be assisted by a relative during meal times if this is thought to of benefit. Again, please ask the nurse looking after the patient. 5
Medical, Nursing and Therapy Teams We have 9 consultants whose names will be displayed at the bed area. There are ward rounds 6 days a week (except Sunday) for stroke patients unless consultants are on annual leave. Patients under the Neurology teams will be seen by a consultant on a Monday and Thursday. Please see a member of the nursing team about appointments with consultants, as their availability varies. Nursing Teams are allocated in to 3 areas; Neurology Acute Stroke Stroke Rehab. There will always be a registered nurse on duty responsible for the patient who will be able to provide information as appropriate. We have introduced a picture board to help visitors identify the nurse responsible for each patient. These can be found at the ward entrance and also on each room door. Please approach this nurse for information about a specific patient in that room. The unit also has a team of Stroke Assessment Nurses who work alongside the ward staff. They are responsible for assessing potential strokes in A&E and creating beds on the unit so that the patients can come direct to the ward. Their pictures are featured on the ward board and they are also available to answer any questions when available. Therapists work 8am 4pm Monday to Friday; if you would like to speak to a therapist please see a member of staff. What will I need? Patients will need toiletries, day clothes and night clothes. Patients who bring in their own medications will continue to use them during their stay in accordance with the medicine management policy. A full prescription will be dispensed on discharge. 6
Valuables/personal effects Please do not bring in valuables, jewellery or large sums of money. If this is unavoidable, please ask a relative to take them home for you. If this is not possible, hand in any valuables to the nurse in charge of your ward on arrival. Personal effects such as glasses, dentures, hearing aids, etc will be regarded as patients responsibility. The Trust cannot accept liability for the loss of items that are not handed in for safekeeping. Electrical items such as TV s and radios are not permitted due to testing requirements Moving to different Units/Discharge/transfer Planning The unit provides cares for patients with Neurological conditions and Acute Stroke care for patients from the Wakefield, Pontefract and Dewsbury areas. The demand for acute stroke beds is unpredictable and senior nurses, physicians and stroke assessment nurses will decide how to accommodate acute beds dependant upon this demand. Subsequently patients may be transferred at short notice to Pontefract or Dewsbury Stroke Unit to continue the Rehabilitation phase of their care, creating beds for new Acute cases. When a patient no longer requires an acute hospital bed, transfer of care to other facilities outside of these units often occurs and is part of the patient pathway. We will involve the patient and any relevant others in this process from admission. We normaly use Pontefract Stroke Unit, Queen Elizabeth House, Monument House and the Kingsdale Unit. We also have recently used beds at Snapethorpe Care Home and Priory Gardens when there is a delay in transfer to the desired destination when an acute neurology/stroke bed is no longer required. An early supported discharge team is also available for stroke patients who can continue their rehabilitation at home providing they are safe to do so. 7
Complaints & compliments about our service. As a new area we are developing our service and welcome input from you. If you would like to comment on our service please contact Sister Alison Sharp or complete a card situated in the main corridor near the entrance. If you are unhappy about any issues then we would like to resolve this where ever possible at the time. Please make the registered nurse responsible for the patients care aware of any issue. If you would prefer there is always a senior nurse in charge of the unit although they may not be the nurse who has been providing care for the patient. They will try and also resolve any issue. I or one of my team of sisters will always be on duty between Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm weekends vary. Any unresolved issues can be dealt with by contacting them in person or via the phone. Messages may be taken for them to call you back. Contact details The Neurology and Stroke Unit is located at Gate 2 on Floor A Telephone Number: 01924 542000 Unit Manager, Senior Sister Alison Sharp We are committed to providing high quality care. If you have a suggestion, comment, complaint or appreciation about the care you have received, or if you need this leaflet in another format please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on: 01924 543686 or email: pals@midyorks.nhs.uk To contact any of our hospitals call: 0844 811 8110 To book or change an appointment call: 0844 822 0022 1537a Published March 2012 Review Date 2015 SMOKE FREE hospital Design: The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust - design and print dept 2