The right place for your care Acute Hospitals, such as the Queens Medical Centre and City Hospitals, are for people who require emergency, medical or surgical treatment within a hospital environment. We aim for you to only be in hospital for as long as necessary. We will do our best to ensure that as soon as this need is over, you leave hospital safely. When your treatment has been completed it is important that your stay is not delayed for the following reasons: • some people find it harder to return home the longer they stay in hospital • there is a risk of acquiring infections in hospital, so leaving at the earliest opportunity means this is less likely • By helping you home when the ward team agree you are well enough to leave hospital, you get the best possible chance for recovery and recuperation. This reduces your risk of falls & muscle wastage. When patients stay in hospital longer than needed, it makes it more difficult for us to admit those who require emergency care or urgent operations.
Your stay in hospital What to bring We encourage our patients to get dressed and mobile as soon as they are able to promote their dignity and to help them recover quicker. We would love to see more patients in their own clothes as it helps them feel more positive and has a beneficial effect on well-being. Getting patients moving, if they are able to, often reduces the length of time they need to spend in hospital, aids recovery and reduces de-conditioning through muscle wasting. To help this we ask you to also bring: • daywear, underwear, socks and comfortable shoes • a separate set of outdoor clothes, including coat and foot wear, for you to wear when you are discharged. We encourage family and friends to help you with eating, dressing and walking (where appropriate) and our staff are happy to support you in the correct way to do this. Together we can help encourage our patients to get moving to get home. Please do not bring large amounts of money or valuables with you. 4
It is easier to bring these things in when you have a planned visit to hospital, less easy when you arrive with us in an emergency. However, this is a useful list to give to your family so that they may bring these items to you for use during your stay.
Your hospital team In hospital you will find a multi-disciplinary team which may include doctors, matron, ward nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians and social workers who could all be involved in your care. The relevant professional will talk with you and assess what you are able to do and what you might need more help with. They will then discuss with you what treatment, help or support is available to improve your independence. The therapists will discuss with other members of the hospital team their findings and together with you and your family/ carer make a plan for your discharge from hospital.
Carers Carers are people who care, in an unpaid capacity, for friends or family members who are ill, frail or disabled and can come from all backgrounds and cultures and can be of any age or gender. We are dedicated to supporting carers. Please speak to the ward manager (senior nurse) about how we can support you in your role as a carer.
Our flexible visiting arrangements Whilst we manage the Covid-19 virus visiting at the QMC and Nottingham City Hospital has changed – visit our website for the latest information. We are currently not allowing visitors unless outside of some special allowances.There special allowances are for birthing partners, parents of patients under 18, those supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed, relatives collecting patients on discharge and those at the end of life. These will be restricted and visitors must be prearranged with the nurse in charge.
