Hand washing. Always wash your hands or use the alcohol gel provided to prevent spread of infection when entering the ward areas. It is also good practice to use the gel again when leaving the wards.
Infection control Do not touch any wound dressings, catheter bags or intravenous drips. This can easily spread infection. Sitting on the patient’s bed is also discouraged.
Visitors Some wards have a maximum number of visitors per bed at any one time. Check if in doubt. Ask ward staff in advance if a visitor will be allowed on to the ward outside normal visiting times. For example if a relative has travelled a long distance or if the person’s lawyer or spiritual visitor has to visit outside of normal visiting times. Visiting can be a morale boost but it can also be very tiring for the person in the early stages of recovery. Check in advance so it will not interfere with any planned treatments.
Children visiting In some wards small children are not encouraged to visit for infection control or because the ward has very ill patients who require a quiet environment.
Restricted visiting Occasionally there may be an infection outbreak on the ward. Staff may ask visitors with colds and flu not to visit or visiting may be restricted until the outbreak is over.
Mobile phones Some wards allow the use of mobile phones or electronic devices and others do not because of hospital policy. If in doubt check.
Medication Some wards will ask for a list of the person’s medication and the dose. Do not worry if you do not have this information. The GP can be contacted by the hospital. If the person is on medications such as warfarin or insulin and they keep a record at home of recent INR ( international normalised ratio ) results and blood glucose levels this could be useful for staff to see. If you know the person has allergies to medication such as penicillin tell ward staff.
Valuables Most wards have a policy on patient’s valuables and storage of money and personal items such as electronic devices, mobile phones. Please check with staff what the local policy is. Only small amounts of money should be needed for newspapers, magazines if the ward has access to a trolley service or hospital shop. Wards have little or no space for large items such as suitcases or large electrical equipment.
No Smoking All NHS hospitals have a no smoking policy by law. All hospital wards, departments and clinics are no smoking areas. Some may have designated smoking areas others do not. Please check.
Printed information Most NHS hospitals will have a booklet or hospital guide for you to read when the person is admitted. If you do not have a copy ask ward staff who should be able to get one for you. Some NHS hospitals also have the hospital guide on their website to download.