Remember to bring your appointment letter, any medications you’re taking and a form of identification. You may also wish to bring some things to make your stay more comfortable:

• Clothes, including comfortable night and day wear and slippers
• Toiletries including a towel
• Things that help you pass the time, such as reading materials
• A small amount of cash for the hospital shop
• Your glasses or contact lenses, hearing aid or dentures, if you wear them
• Any mobility aids you may need
• Items of religious importance to you

You may want to bring your mobile phone or tablets to keep in touch with the outside world. Please remember that these are brought in at your own risk and are not the responsibility of the hospital. We cannot accept liability for lost money or valuables.

If you forget to bring any items, they can be dropped off at our main entrance desk. Make sure they are packaged safely with the name and ward clearly marked on them.

We kindly ask that you do not bring food into our hospitals. This is for health and safety reasons as we cannot guarantee how it will be stored and our staff are not legally allowed to heat food that has been brought in. However, if you do decide to bring food in, please understand that the Trust cannot accept liability for the way food from outside has been stored and/or prepped.

When you arrive on the ward, you will be shown to your bed and the ward routine will be explained to you. We may also test you for infections such as MRSA that could possibly be transferred to other patients. 

Once we’ve got all your information, including next of kin and medical history, we will give you an identity bracelet. We will also give you a red band to wear if you have an allergy. Please keep them on for the duration of your stay.

If you are 65 or over, you will be assessed to see if there is a risk of you falling. The level of risk will be based on your mobility, cognition and the medication you may be taking. If required, you may be given foot rails, bed rails or walking aids to help you through your stay.

Remember, if there is something you don’t understand, ask a member of staff.

Our wards are really busy places, so we try our best to keep disruption to a minimum. This is especially important during mealtimes and at night.

A typical day in our hospital looks like this:

• 8am – breakfast
• 9am – doctors’ rounds
• Noon – lunch
• Afternoon – tests, operations and procedures
• 5pm – dinner

Dietary requirements

Our trust accomodates for all of your dietary needs, including:

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Halal
• Kosher
• Gluten free

Protected mealtimes

During mealtimes all nursing activity stops, except for emergencies. It’s an opportunity to make sure everyone gets something to eat, and our staff and volunteers will be on hand to help those who need extra support.

If you or your visitors have any questions about your care, please wait until the meal service is over.