Welcome guide for patients, family and carers

You will go directly to the ward/unit where your treatment is planned at the day and time arranged.

You will be admitted to one of the Acute Medical Units (AMU A or B) or the Emergency Surgical Unit (ESU) for assessment and initial treatment. You will then either be transferred to the most appropriate medical or surgical ward for on-going care or treatment or you may be discharged. If you are admitted to a specialist ward, you will be transferred to a medical or surgical ward when your condition improves.

Wherever you go you will be given a wristband with your essential details on it. This must be worn throughout your hospital stay. If you have any allergies, you will be given a red wristband. You will have a nurse during each shift who will be responsible for your care and to liaise with your family.

If your medical condition has become stable but you still require a little longer to recover, you may be transferred to one of our community hospitals before returning home. However, depending on your individual needs this level of care can also be provided within a Residential Care setting which will be discussed with you and your relatives or carers.

When you are admitted to hospital, staff will ask you who they should record as your preferred primary contact (often referred to as your next-of-kin). This can be your partner, a member of your family or a good friend.

They will also ask you for details of any family or friends who you are happy for us to speak to about the progress of your treatment.

This does not have to be the same as your primary contact. However, your primary contact is the person that staff would look to for guidance about your care if you were unable to communicate your wishes clearly yourself.

Everyone working in the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. Please inform the nursing staff if you do not wish family and friends to be kept informed about your progress.

Confidential information cannot be communicated over the telephone.

Keeping you safe whilst in hospital is our priority. There are ways you can help us to keep you safe. There is a Patient Safety video which can be viewed by pressing the information button on your bedside television. We advise that you watch this video.

As an inpatient our commitment to you is to:

• keep you safe (free from harm)
• include you in all aspects of your care and treatment
• listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have
• treat you with dignity and respect at all times

To support our commitment you will be visited by a member of the nursing team:

• every hour from 08:00 - 22:00
• every two hours from 22:00 - 08:00

If you are sleeping you will not be disturbed unless your care needs support this.

We call this Intentional Rounding.

During this time we will:

• check you and your wellbeing
• check whether you are in pain
• help you move your position if required
• check whether you need help to go for a walk or to the toilet
• ensure you can have access to your bed table, drinks, nurse call-bell etc.

We hope that by checking on your wellbeing on an hourly and two-hourly basis we will ensure your stay with us is as safe and comfortable as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns please speak with a member of the nursing team.

All staff are required to wear a name badge and should introduce themselves. If you are not clear about who they are or what their job is please do not hesitate to ask.

Here are some of the different uniforms worn by staff who are likely to be involved in your care:

• Matron: purple uniform with purple piping
• Assistant Matron: purple uniform with navy piping
• Ward Matron: navy uniform with red piping
• Ward Manager: navy uniform with white piping
• Ward Sister: navy uniform with navy piping
• Nurse Consultant: red uniform with navy piping
• Staff Nurse / Nurse Associate: royal blue uniform with white piping
• Student Nurse: white uniform
• Health Care Assistant: aqua uniform with white piping

You may see other staff on the ward, these can include:

As we are a teaching hospital you may have a wide range of trainee staff caring for you, which may not be listed here. This is a fundamental part of their training and they would be very happy to receive feedback on how they are doing.

Carers have an important role in the delivery of safe, personal and effective care of patients in hospital. It is important for us to identify, involve and support carers in the clinical setting in order to get the care of the patient right.

Many people who look after someone do not realise they are a carer. A carer helps to look after another person who is not able to look after themselves completely without help. This could be someone in your family, a partner or a friend.

Free help and support is available if you are a carer.

If you live in the borough of Blackburn with Darwen, please contact:

Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service

01254 688440

office@bwdcarers.org.uk

If you live in the boroughs of Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn or The Ribble Valley, please contact:

Carers Link Lancashire

01254 387444

info@carerslinklancashire.co.uk

John’s Campaign is a national campaign calling for the families and carers of people with dementia to be allowed to stay with them in hospital for as many hours as they are needed, and as they are able to give.

If you would like to provide support for your loved one, you are welcome at any time that suits you.

Please ask a member of staff for further information.

Some patients may lack capacity to consent to care and treatment either on a short term basis or sometimes permanently. In these circumstances decisions about care and treatment will need to be made in the best interests of the patient.

Where treatment is not needed urgently, staff will seek to consult with primary contacts, family and friends to try to reach shared agreement about what care or treatment should be provided. They can help by letting staff know what decision they believe you would make for yourself if you were able to do so.

Your primary contact cannot consent to care or treatment on your behalf unless you have given them authority by making a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney. Please notify a member of staff if a Lasting Power of Attorney is in place and be prepared to provide a copy for the staff to retain in your medical records.

High standards of Infection Control, hygiene and the provision of a clean and well maintained environment are at the heart of the successful delivery of healthcare services.

Protecting patients from infection is the responsibility of everyone including staff and visitors.

All patients admitted for planned treatment and as an emergency are screened for MRSA as standard. Some patients may be nursed in a single room and require additional treatment to help prevent infections from spreading.

What you can do to help

As a patient - don’t touch wounds, IV lines, catheters. If there is an issue, speak to your nurse. Bring in slippers to wear on your feet.

Get your visitors to wash/gel their hands, not sit on the beds and take home unnecessary things to prevent clutter and aid cleaning. They must not visit if they are unwell or have had diarrhoea/vomiting within the last 48 hours.

Gel is available at patient bedsides, outside single rooms/bays and at entrances to wards and departments.

Hand hygiene is the most effective way for patients, visitors and staff to prevent the spread of infection. You can wash your hands with soap and water (especially after using the toilet) or use the gel (if your hands are visibly clean).

You should wash your hands:

• after using the toilet or changing a nappy
• prior to eating, drinking and taking medicines
• after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
• on returning to your bed
• when they are visibly dirty

We actively encourage visiting and the involvement of visitors, family and carers while you are in hospital.

Keeping in touch with your family and friends can play an important part in your recovery.

Visiting times specific to your ward are displayed on the notice boards at the ward entrance. Ward guidelines will also let you know about the number of visitors you are allowed at your bedside. Please ask on the ward for further details.

There are restaurant/coffee shops available for both visitors and patients. There are also facilities to purchase newspapers and other goods on site.

There are car parks available at all our hospital sites for patients and visitors.

Some of our car parks are pay and display and require you to purchase a ticket from the machine located in the car park at the time that you park.

We also have a pay on exit car park at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital which you access through a barrier, collecting a ticket as you enter the car park. If you use a pay on exit car park you will pay for your parking at the end of your visit. There are machines to pay for your parking outside the main entrance to the hospital.

Parking charges apply 24 hours a day. However, parking is free of charge for Blue Badge holders – in Blackburn please visit the car parking office with your entry ticket and Blue Badge (a photo of your Blue Badge will be accepted).

Please note that the holder of the valid Blue Badge must be present at the service desk in order for the parking ticket to be validated free from charge. Please click on the following link for further information about parking and concessions - Car Parking :: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

At Royal Blackburn Hospital, there may be facilities to watch TV or listen to the radio at your bedside.

Some of these services are free but some require payment which can be made at one of the vending machines around the hospital where there are also information leaflets regarding the service. The payment can also be made with a credit/debit card by following the on-screen instructions.

Space for storing personal belongings is limited so try to keep these to a minimum but you will need the essentials listed below:

• Any current medication or the usual prescription sheet
• Details of your next-of-kin and contact numbers for family/carers
• Toiletries such as soap, towel, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, shaving materials etc.
• Nightclothes and dressing gown
• Suitable slippers and shoes
• Day clothes – getting up and dressed will help you to recover so that you can go home to your loved ones earlier. We will support you to get up and active
• Walking aids if used. For example, sticks and frames. Make sure they are labelled so they can be identified as yours
• Things to read and spectacles if required
• Small amount of cash for newspapers/magazines if desired

You are advised not to bring valuables into the hospital. If you do have cash or valuables, please speak to a member of the nursing staff to ensure they are safely stored.

You are responsible for any personal property or belongings that you choose to keep with you so only bring in property that you need for your stay.

Food and nutrition play an important role in your recovery.

Our menus are designed with you in mind. Recipes are analysed to make sure they provide the right nutrition for health and wellbeing. You will be offered a range of cereals for breakfast, and a choice of hot meals, sandwiches, salads and desserts for lunch and evening meal. Drinks, including tea, coffee, water, milk, and juice are available throughout the day.

Please let us know if:

• You have special dietary requirements such as gluten-free or Halal meals and our catering team will happily adapt recipes for your needs.
• You have difficulty eating and drinking – this is normal when you are unwell so please let us know if you need any assistance or want a friend or relative to be there during mealtimes to help.
• If you need help with what to choose from the menu.
• You have a poor appetite or have lost weight during your stay.

Food and nutrition also play an important role in your recovery and will help you get home sooner.

If you require further advice relating to your diet once you leave hospital, please contact your GP. If you were prescribed oral nutritional supplements in hospital and feel that these may still be required, please contact your GP.

The Trust operates a Smoke Free Policy. Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes are not allowed anywhere in our hospitals or grounds, including car parks.

You are more likely to stop smoking with the right support. Find out more by searching ‘NHS Smoke Free’ where you can download your own personal quit plan.

We are a ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ Trust, holders of the first UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Gold Standard accreditation. We support the ‘Breastfeeding Friendly Places’ campaign which is an important element of the UNICEF ‘Baby Friendly Initiative’. You are welcome to breastfeed in any area of our hospitals.

If you are admitted and breastfeeding we will do all we can to support you to continue during your stay. It is important to inform the people involved in your care, such as doctors and nurses so they can plan your treatments accordingly, and where possible prescribe treatment which is compatible with breastfeeding.

For more information or guidance please visit our website: https://elht.nhs.uk/services/maternity-and-newborn-services

The chapels and Muslim prayer rooms at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital and Burnley General Teaching Hospital are open 24/7. There is a Quiet Room (alongside the Chapel) at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital for private prayer and reflection.

The Chapel, Mosque and Quiet Room at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital are located on Level 3 in the Spiritual Care Centre (opposite Ward C14).

The Chapel and Muslim Prayer Room at Burnley General Teaching Hospital can be found in Area 4.

Chaplains regularly visit wards and can be called to visit individuals at any time.

The Chaplaincy Team can be reached by calling: 01254 733632 or 01254 733001

A member of staff will also be able to help you contact this service.

We aim to always communicate and listen to our patients and to provide appropriate information at the right time. We want to involve you in decisions about your care and to understand what is important to you.

If there is anything you or your family/carer do not understand, or you have any questions or concerns during your stay do not be afraid to ask. Please speak to the nurse looking after you.

Some questions you may wish to consider are:

• What is wrong with me?
• What is going to happen today?
• When am I going home?
• What is needed to get me home?

If you, a relative or a friend would like to speak to one of the consultants about your care please ask a member of the ward team or the consultant’s secretary at any time and they will do their best to help.

It can help to write a list of the questions you want answered and show it to a member of staff. Please use the notes section on page 8 of this booklet to write down any questions you, your family or carer may have.

If you remain concerned after speaking to the nurse looking after your care, please ask to speak with the Nurse in Charge or the Matron. Their details will be displayed on the notice boards at the ward entrance.

If you would prefer to speak to somebody independant of the ward you can contact the Customer Relations Team. The Customer Relations Team can offer support, information and assistance to patients, relatives, carers and visitors, and will try to resolve problems quickly by talking to the people concerned. The Customer Relations Team can be contacted on telephone number 0800 587 2586, or ask a member of the ward team to contact them on your behalf.

Your feedback is important to us. It lets us know what we are doing well and not so well, this helps us to improve.

During your stay you will be given the opportunity to complete a feedback card. Please ask a member of staff if you do not receive one. Once completed please post it in the box provided.

Our staff aim to deliver safe, personal and effective care to all our patients. Our Employee of the Month Award gives us the opportunity to acknowledge that hard work and commitment. If a member of staff has really made a difference to your stay and you believe they have gone above and beyond what is expected, you can nominate them for an Employee of the Month award. Please speak to the Ward Sister.

The NHS National Patient Survey Programme is part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring patient feedback informs the continued development and improvement of services. All NHS Trusts in England are legally obliged to participate in the National Survey Programme and carry out surveys of patients’ views on their healthcare experience.

The National Inpatient Survey is carried out annually and patients admitted to hospital during November may be selected to take part. Taking part is voluntary and all answers are confidential. If you are selected to take part, your contact details will be used by researchers who are carrying out the survey on our behalf.

For further information about the National Patient Survey Programme please contact the Patient Experience Team on telephone number: 01254 733716 or via email at patientexperience@elht.nhs.uk