Inpatient Information

This information is designed to help you prepare for a visit to our hospital.  You may also find it useful to refer to the other sections such as General Information. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff.

Packing

Please bring the following items with you when you come into hospital:

• Soap and facecloth
• Nightdress or pyjamas
• Underwear
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Dressing gown and slippers
• Brush and comb
• Box or packet of tissues
• Shaving kit or electric razor
• Small change for telephone
• Comfortable clothing

We encourage you to dress as part of your rehabilitation. Therefore, it is helpful if you also bring in clothes for dressing practice with the Occupational Therapist. This will enable you to be dressed during the day.

You may find it useful to have reading material, writing paper, envelopes and stamps. These can also be purchased from the WRVS (Women's Royal Voluntary Service) Cafeteria and Trolley Service.

Personal belongings

On admission to your ward you will be given a bedside locker of your own in which to keep personal belongings. For your own security, do not bring valuables or large sums of money into hospital. The hospital can only accept responsibility for small amounts of cash or valuables that are officially handed over to ward staff for safe-keeping. An official receipt will be given for this. The hospital cannot accept liability for loss or theft of items not handed over to ward staff, as responsibility for these items remains with the patient.

Personal medication

Please see the information about personal medication and bring all your medications with you.

On arrival

If you are being admitted to the wards below please go directly to the ward:

• Ward 7, 8, 9 and 10
• Ward 12
• Ward 15 to 22
• Maidencraig Unit

Liaison nurses

When you are admitted to hospital, the ward nurse responsible for your care may refer you to the liaison nurse. Liaison nurses work closely with the ward, medical and nursing staff, also district nurses, health visitors, social services and other members of the multi-disciplinary team (such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and any other healthcare professionals who have been or may be involved in your care). When you are discharged from hospital you may need support from the community nursing staff or social services. The liaison nurses will help to ensure that arrangements are in place for your discharge from hospital.

Clinical teaching

Woodend Hospital is a teaching hospital, training medical, nursing, pharmacy and paramedical staff. Please help by allowing them to participate in your care. If you do not wish students to be present, please let a member of staff know.

Consent to treatment

Your medical care is supervised by a consultant who has other doctors to help him or her.  It is important that you should understand the nature of any treatment or operation which is to be carried out.  This will be explained to you by a doctor and if you are to have an operation you will be asked to sign a consent form.

The Consent - it's your decision information leaflet tells you about your right to make decisions about your care and treatment.  This leaflet is available in other languages and formats.

A version of this leaflet is also available for children and young people under 16.

Questions

If you have any questions about your care or treatment, please ask a doctor / nurse.  You may find it helpful to have a friend or relative with you.  If you are not sure about any answers, please ask the doctor / nurse to explain further.

The leaflet It's okay to ask suggests questions you could ask and is available in other languages and formats.  

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.

MRSA Screening Information - People with an overnight stay in Orthapaedics Only

NHS Grampian carries out MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) screeening.  This means you may have extra tests which usually involve taking swabs of your nose and skin.  The following documents provide more information about MRSA screening:

MRSA Study

Information for patients with MRSA

MRSA Screening - Information for patients and carers 
MRSA Screening

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 0845 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.

Other useful information

Please see our additional information that you may find useful