Welcome to The Harbour

This leaflet is intended to help you feel comfortable and relaxed about visiting your relative / friend / partner whilst they are a patient here at The Harbour.

We realise that this is a difficult time for you and your relative / friend / partner, but we would like to assure you that an experienced team of professionals are caring for them during their stay at The Harbour.

A Carer Link is identified on each ward area and please contact the ward if you wish to speak them or any of the care team staff.

Consent from your relative / friend / partner will need to be obtained before any information can be passed to you, although we welcome any information you can provide us that will assist with their care.

There are various procedures in place to ensure that our hospital is safe and secure for all our patients, visitors and staff. We hope that as you become used to visiting these will become less daunting.

Before you visit

Visiting times on the wards are: Every day from 1pm to 7.45pm

Alternative times may be arranged on request with the Nurse in Charge or Ward Manager.

Visiting times on the Byron and Keats PICU wards are to be arranged with these wards separately.

If you are in any doubt about gifts or items that you would like to bring in, please don’t hesitate to seek advice from a member of staff. We appreciate your co-operation with this request, thank you for your assistance.

A member of the nursing team will be available to support you throughout the visit.

Occasionally circumstances arise which means the visit is postponed or cancelled at short notice. If you are visiting the PICU, it maybe useful to phone first to ensure the visit can still go ahead.

We do not allow under 18’s to enter the wards, but we have two family visiting rooms that are available with toys and games that younger visitors are welcome to use. These visits must be arranged in advance and booked with the ward to ensure the room is available.

When you arrive

Parking is free at The Harbour and you will need to report to reception upon arrival to inform the staff who you are visiting. They will ask you for some details and then provide you with a visitor’s badge. This is a necessary requirement for your safety in the event of a fire evacuation. You will be asked to wear this badge at all times. Staff will then direct you to the ward you are visiting.

To get to the ward, you will pass through a door that can only be unlocked by a staff member.

During your visit

Your visit will take place on the ward, within the designated visiting area that has been set-aside for you. In the interest of other patients’ privacy and confidentiality we ask that you do not wander about in the ward.

Additionally, it may be possible for you to go for a walk outside or attend the onsite café with your relative / friend / partner. This may have to be agreed in advance by the care team in some circumstances.

Please note that The Harbour and the surrounding outside space is a

NON-SMOKING facility for ALL visitors, patients and staff.

When you leave The Harbour please hand your visitors badge back to the main reception.

Restricted items

In the interest of promoting a safe and secure therapeutic environment for all, we find it necessary to limit or deny access to certain types of items, which our experience tells us could be potentially harmful or risky to people, or damaging to property.

The primary nurse or the nurse in charge will be very happy to explain the details to you, but here are some general guidelines to help you;

We don’t allow free access to:

  • Matches or cigarette lighters

  • Sharp implements such as knives, tools or other utensils, drawing pins etc

  • Alcohol / Drugs or medication of any kind

  • Glass, tins or pots, plastic bags

  • Recording instruments; cameras, camcorders, tape-recorders, blank tapes

  • Lap-top / palm–top computers / personal organisers

If you are found in possession of any of the listed items, you will be asked to remove them from the ward. It is best to leave these sorts of items at home or in your car.

A nurse on the ward may ask beforehand if you have any items that you wish to give to your relative / friend/ partner, as these may need to be searched.

Please understand that we do not wish to cause any offence by this request.

Questions, Compliments or Complaints?

We value feedback, both positive and negative, as it enables us to evaluate and develop the services we provide.

If you wish to complain about or compliment the service or care and treatment, please approach a member of staff in the first instance. If it is a concern or complaint they may be able to resolve this immediately, you can also raise any concern with the ward sister/charge nurse or matron. Alternatively there are leaflets on the ward to make a compliment or complain, the address to send this to is:

Customer CareTel: 01772 695 315

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Freephone: 0808 144 1010 PO Box 592, Sceptre Way,

Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6ZX

An advocate can also assist you with making a compliment, complaint, suggestion or concern.

If you would like further information about being involved with Lancashire & South Cumbria services, please contact:

The Experience Team, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Sceptre Point, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit, Preston PR5 6AW

Tel: 01772 773 489

experience@lscft.nhs.uk

Useful information you may wish to complete:

  • Ward name
  • Ward Contact Number
  • Primary Nurse
  • Sister/Charge Nurse
  • Matron
  • Ward Consultant
  • Ward Carer Link Name

Hospital address

The Harbour, Windmill Rise,

Off Preston New Road, Blackpool,

Lancashire FY4 4XQ

Harbour Telephone Numbers

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 email the PALS Team.

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, 7 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.