General Medical wards - Welcome to Ward 1 - Cardiology Day Case Unit

Ward Environment

Ward 1 is a 10 bedded Cardiology Day Case Unit, open Monday to Friday between 8.00am - 8.45pm. We care for patients undergoing elective cardiac procedures such as permanent pacemaker insertion, implantable defibrillator insertion, loop recorder implants/explants, coronary angiograms, and coronary angioplasty (stents). All cardiac procedures are undertaken in the Silver Heart Unit Cardiac Cather Lab.

We will do our best to make you as comfortable as possible during your stay. This leaflet aims to provide you with all the information to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff on the ward.

Contact Details

Ward telephone number is 0161 778 2501

The Ward manager is Emma Cotterill

The Silver Heart Unit Manager is Rebecca Dunn

The Medical/Nursing Team

Ward 1 is a nurse led unit meaning after your procedure the discharge will be nurse led, aiding a smoother/timely discharge. However, please be assured that we do have doctors at hand if we require any assistance.

Our team comprises of cardiac consultants, junior doctors, cardiac nursing staff that are specifically trained to care for cardiology patients, radiographers, cardiac physiologists, health care assistants, student nurses, nursing cadets, porters, and a ward clerk.

During your Stay

You will be welcomed onto the ward by our nursing team. Admission times are 8am and 12.30pm; please be aware these are admitting times only, the schedule of the patients will be determined on the day and will be based on clinical need.
Additionally, we would like to highlight that we have 2 labs running concurrently.

During your admission you can expect lying and standing blood pressure checks, cannula insertion and an ECG. If you have not consented to the procedure prior, this will be done on the ward before transfer to the Cath Lab. You will be asked to change into a theatre gown and then await transfer to the Silver Heart Unit.

On arrival into the Silver Heart Unit (SHU) you will be greeted by a member of the Cath Lab team who will go through your care plan to ensure there are no changes. The doctor will also reconfirm your consent (unless this has been done on the ward earlier). We will then take you into the Cath Lab where the procedure will take place. You will then be asked to move onto the x-ray bed and be connected to a cardiac monitor and blood pressure cuff, for monitoring throughout the procedure. The consultant (or a member of their team) will then undertake your procedure. Following your procedure, we will transfer you back to ward 1 where you will be recovered.

The recovery period will depend on what procedure you have had done. This can vary between 1-4 hours. For your safety, you cannot leave the unit until your recovery period is completed.  You will have an allocated nurse who is responsible for care until discharge.

Falling in hospital happens more often than you think. Post procedure you may be at additional risk of this due to the medications given to you whilst in the Cath Lab. All patients are requested not to mobilise until the nurse has completed all checks.

Your nurse will inform you of your planned discharge time, so your family/friends have plenty of notice to arrive to collect you.

Our procedures are generally planned as day case but, occasionally there is a clinical need for overnight stay. If this occurs, you will be fully informed and transferred when a bed is available.

Visiting

Due to our ward being a day case unit, we do not allow visitors. However, if a patient has cognitive impairment or carer, then 1 carer/family member can stay, this is due to limited space and to protect patients’ privacy and dignity.

Family and friends are more than welcome to contact the unit during your stay but due to the pace and pressures of the ward can we please ask that only one person liaise with the unit, and they cascade the information to other family members.

General Information

Patients must take responsibility for any valuables brought into hospital. We do advise you leave valuables at home. There is a small locker where your phone can be stored.

Tell us what you think about your stay

Feedback is of high importance to us, and we value the opportunity to hear your thoughts to help us improve our service. We encourage patients and carers to complete a ‘Friends and Family survey when you leave our ward. The comments received from our patients are reviewed monthly and are a valuable way of gaining feedback on how we are doing and what could be improved.

Compliments, concerns and complaints

A positive patient experience is very important to all the staff. We always welcome and encourage feedback whether good or bad.

If you have any concerns or complaints regarding your stay on Ward 1, please feel free to ask to speak to the nurse in charge or ward manager. If you feel unable to communicate your complaint the Trust has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) which is a confidential service providing help, advice and information for patients, family, and carers.

You can contact PALS on 0161 604 5897

Ward 1, Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD

Telephone Number: 0161 778 2501

Johns Campaign ‘Carers Welcome’

Ward 1/SHU are proud to support Johns Campaign – encouraging and supporting carers to continue their role whilst in hospital.

For more information about John’s Campaign please visit the website: www.johnscampaign.org