Introduction

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Longridge Ward and hope that your stay will be as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

We know it can be a daunting time when you are being admitted to hospital. This can be a difficult time for you and your family when you are all anxious and organising things around your stay: childcare, pets etc.

The aim of this booklet is to provide you, your family and friends with information that will help you understand your stay in hospital and the care and treatment you receive.

Please ask any member of the ward team any questions or concerns that you and your family may have, they will be pleased to help and reassure you.

We aim to provide the highest standards of care and will look after you with respect and compassion.

 Longridge Community Hospital Vision

  • We provide a high standard of safe and effective care through an individual care approach within a clean and friendly ward

  • We acknowledge that all our patients have individual needs and therefore plan their care around these needs

  • We encourage all patients to be involved to help with their independence

  • Our care is given via a multi-disciplinary approach which helps to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to your home, wherever that may be

  • Our staff feel well supported, valued and respected, which provides a happier environment for all

Smokefree

In line with NHS national policy all of our hospital sites, including the car parking areas, are Smokefree.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the hospital site.

Support is available to stop smoking by contacting the Trust’s Quit Squad on 01772 644 474 or 0800 328 6297

About the ward

Longridge Community ward is a 15 bedded unit providing inpatient care for male and female patients.

Making your stay comfortable

Privacy and Dignity

Throughout your stay your privacy, dignity, religious and cultural beliefs will be respected. You will be cared for in a four or two bedded single sex bay within a ward. Priority for any single rooms is given to patients whose condition requires this.

Bathrooms and toilets are designed to provide a range of facilities appropriate for your care, whilst offering the most privacy possible.

It is your right to be told prior to your admission about the environment in which you will be cared for. If you are concerned about your accommodation please inform staff who will try to address your concerns.

On the ward there is a communal lounge with books, games, television and hi-fi systems for you to enjoy. We ask you to be considerate of others with regard to choice of programme and volume.

Ward visiting times

The visiting times on the ward are 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm every day.

We politely request that you do not visit at mealtimes unless this is by prior agreement with the ward staff.

Access to the Ward is via the main front door during usual working hours or via the side entrance during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Visitors are limited to three at one time and we ask that your visitors respect all other patients needs for rest, treatment and privacy.

Chairs are provided for visitors. If there are none available please ask a member of staff for assistance. We ask that visitors refrain from sitting on beds for infection control.

If you are aware of visitors or potential visitors who have been unwell with gastro intestinal symptoms or flu like symptoms please ask them not to visit. This is for the health and safety of all patients.

Children visiting can be a boost for patients however hospitals are not always the most suitable environment for children and we ask that all are mindful of not disturbing the other patients.

We understand that sometimes people may not be able to visit at the times specified by the ward. To arrange a visit outside of these times, please arrange in advance by contacting the ward by telephone and ask to speak to the Nurse in Charge.

Please note, all visiting must end at 8.00pm.

Health and safety in hospital

Identifying hospital staff

All staff employed by the Trust should carry a photo identification badge. If you are unsure who anyone is, please ask to see their badge.

Personal safety

We aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment. Whilst incidents are rare, we do not tolerate anti-social behaviour, violence or discrimination of any kind. Appropriate action will always be taken.

Preventing infection

We take the prevention of infection very seriously. Over the past few years the Trust has adopted a range of proactive measures to prevent associated infections.

As a Trust we have developed policies and procedures to prevent infection in patients under our care.

There are many things you can do to help prevent infection, these include:

  • Keep your hands and body clean. Bring in your own personal toiletries and do not use or borrow other patient’s toiletries.

  • Always wash your hands after using the toilet / commode / bedpan. If you are unable to reach a sink, please ask one of the nursing staff to provide you with hand wipes.

  • Use soap and water to frequently wash your hands and ensure you wash and dry them thoroughly.

  • Wash or clean your hands before and after eating.

  • Hospital staff will always wash their hands before they examine you or perform a procedure. If they fail to do this they care not complying with Trust policy. Please challenge any member of staff if you do not see them wash their hands or feel free to ask them the question; ‘Have you washed your hands?’

  • Your bed and ward area should be cleaned regularly. If you are not happy with the standard of cleanliness or you see that something has been missed, please report this to the nurse in charge or ask to speak to the Ward Manager.

  • Towels are provided by the ward, this ensures you have a clean towel every day and no damp towels are left hanging around. Try to keep the top of your locker free from clutter so that the area can be cleaned properly.

  • Please encourage your visitors to use the hand gel available at the entrance to the ward. They should use it on entering and leaving the ward.

Why have I been admitted to hospital and who will provide my care?

Your admission to hospital has taken place because it has been identified that you need some degree of nursing or medical care, once this has been provided and the matter resolved you will be discharged.

Your admission to Longridge hospital will have been either from home / care home or from another hospital. In either case your GP will have been notified of your admission.

The role of the hospital is to provide care for you:

  • When admitted from home

  • After discharge from the hospital

  • After major surgery

  • Care in the later stages of life

If you are registered with a GP in Longridge they will continue to provide medical care for you. If you are from out of the Longridge area then the Longridge GPs will provide medical care for you whilst on the ward. Your own GP will be provided with a discharge note once you are discharged from hospital.

The medical cover for weekends and out of hours is provided by Preston Primary Care.

Your admission

On admission to the ward you will have a full assessment by a nurse. We need to know as much as possible about you to enable us to agree on an individual plan of care for you from admission to discharge. It is important that you inform us of any wishes or preferences you have. On admission the nurse will ask you why you feel you have been admitted to hospital and what you expect to achieve. This is done to ensure that you are involved and included in your care.

All patients are treated with dignity and respect and your opinions matter, you will be included in discussions about the planning and delivery of care throughout your stay.

If you wish your partner, family or carer to be involved in any discussions then please let us know.

We are aware that not all patients have someone to support them and that decision making can be quite difficult. Please let us know if you would like support as there are services that we can refer you to for an independent advocate someone to assist you.

The GP will usually come and visit you after admission to discuss why you are here and any plans for treatment.

You do have the right to refuse care / treatment as long as you are aware of the consequences and have the capacity to make that decision.

Medication

It is important you bring in any medication that you are taking and hand it in to the nursing staff. All medication will need to be prescribed for you by the doctor.

Please do not take any other medication other than what is given to you by the nurses.

The ward operates a system of protected medication rounds. The nurse who is administering medications will wear a red tabard. We ask that you do not disturb the nurse when they are wearing the red tabards. Please ask one of the other members of staff or ring the nurse call bell if you need anything.

Who is who in the ward team?

  • Ward Manager

Most senior member of the nursing staff on the ward, and wears a navy uniform

  • Ward Sister

Deputises for Ward Manager in absence, and wears a navy uniform

  • Staff Nurse

Provides all care requiring a qualified nurse and supports the Ward Sister. They wear a blue and white striped uniform

  • Health Care Assistant

Work with the Registered Nurses to provide person centred care. They wear a lilac and white uniform

  • Ward Clerk

Office based member of the team, providing administrative support to all staff

  • General Practitioner (GP)

Provides the medical input required to manage patient’s conditions

  • Physiotherapist

Provides individual assessments where appropriate as well as interventions to increase mobility, increase confidence and help prepare for discharge to any suitable environment. They wear a white tunic with navy piping

  • Physiotherapist Assistant

Work with the Physiotherapist to provide individuals care. They wear a green tunic with white piping

  • Occupational Therapist

Assess physical and mental health problems that affect your ability to fully function in your home, social and work environments, and wear a white tunic with green piping

  • Occupational Therapy Assistant

Work with the Occupational Therapists to provide person centred care, and wear a green tunic white piping

  • Pharmacist

Ensures that all medicines are managed safely

  • Chef

Prepares meals and supplies the ward with provisions.

  • Domestic staff

Ensures the ward environment is clean.

There are other members of the multi-disciplinary team you may be referred to and they include Speech and Language Therapists, Podiatrists, Dieticians, and Palliative Care Team.

To make your stay more comfortable you could benefit from having the following personal items with you if they are required correctly.

What you will need whilst in hospital

Clothing and toiletries

We do not have laundry facilities or toiletries on the ward, so please ensure that you have adequate supplies. We do encourage all patients to wear their normal day clothes as this has following benefits:

  • Hairbrush, comb and shampoo

  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, denture pot, denture cleaner

  • Soap, face wash, shower gel, moisturiser etc

  • Deodorant

  • Hand wipes tissues etc

Meals

  • Shaving equipment

  • Sanitary care

  • Change of nightwear, clothes and underwear (plastic bag for dirty linen to take home)

  • Slippers and dressing gown

  • Nail clippers

  • Emery board

  • Provides a greater level of privacy and dignity

  • Allows dressing practice if needed

  • Promotes independence / individuality

  • Supports the feeling of returning to normal

Hot drinks are served regularly throughout the day, with all meals and supper.

Breakfast is a choice of cereal or porridge with bread, butter, marmalade or jam. Your choices for this can be made as it is served.

Lunchtime and evening meals are chosen from a menu that you will be provided with the day before.

Meals are made on site. Please let staff know if you have any special dietary requirements, the chef will be happy to come and discuss any questions you have.

Daily routine of ward

Mealtimes: (Please do not visit at meal times)

  • 8am, breakfast

  • 12pm, lunchtime

  • 5pm, teatime

  • 8pm, supper

Please let staff know if you are hungry or thirsty and they will arrange something to eat or drink outside set meal times.

Medication rounds

  • Morning - 8am

  • Mid-day – 12noon

  • Early evening – 5pm

  • Night time – 9pm

General Practitioners (GPs) will do their rounds and visits after morning surgeries.

Discharge

When you are admitted, one of the first things we will think about is your discharge.

For some patients this can be a life changing event as they will go into residential care, however for many it will be straightforward.

In all cases it has to be a safe discharge, and will be planned through meetings and assessments as appropriate, involving you, your family and friends as necessary.

A stay in hospital will be kept to a minimum as there is always a risk when sharing an environment with people who are ill.

For people who may require further help / care on discharge a referral to social worker is offered, they can help with plans for discharge.

You may be referred to the district nursing service / community matron to continue to provide any nursing care required on discharge.

On discharge we will ask you for your feedback. This helps us to ensure that your needs have been met and that we can address any problems. We appreciate you taking the time to help us with this.

Decisions about resuscitation known as (CPR)

Whilst you are a patient in hospital, the issue of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (known as CPR) may be discussed with you. Please do not be alarmed this is a standard question. CPR may be needed if a patient’s heart and breathing stop, known as a cardiorespiratory arrest.

Decisions around whether to attempt to restart a patient’s heart and breathing are the responsibility of the doctor. However, you may want your and your family to be involved in this decision making process. The healthcare professional in charge of your care will make sure that you, the healthcare team, and any friends or family that you want involved, will be part of the discussions.

If you require further information regarding decisions about resuscitation, please ask the doctor and / or Nurse in Charge and they will be happy to answer any of your concerns and questions.

Comments, concerns and complaints

We welcome both your comments and compliments on the service our Trust provides. Please remember your views are valuable and assist us to make improvements in the care we provide.

We aim to deliver the highest possible standard of care with the resources available to us. Please let us know if you are happy with the care you receive as this provides a welcome boost to our staff.

If you have any concerns while you are in hospital please tell a member of staff about it straight away. Often these concerns can be sorted out immediately. All our staff will receive any comments professionally and sympathetically and your care will not be affected in any way. If you feel that your concern has not been resolved please ask to speak to the matron on duty. They will visit you and help solve any problems you are experiencing.

St Wilfrid’s Terrace, Longridge, Preston, PR3 3WQ

01772 777 401 

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you have some concerns, questions or need advice on our services, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 234 6088 or contact The PALS Team via email. 

Feeling low and need someone to talk to?

Call 0800 915 4640

Monday to Friday 7pm to 11pm Saturday to Sunday 12pm to Midnight

Need urgent help?

Call 0800 953 0110 24 hours a day, seven days a week

This leaflet is available in alternative languages and formats upon request. Please speak to a member of our staff to arrange this.