General Medical Wards - Welcome to Ward M3

M3 is a 12 bedded ward that treats and cares for service users with dermatology, rheumatology, and general medical conditions.

The ward has a multidisciplinary approach to care and treatment working together to deliver high quality person centred care.

This leaflet aims to help you and your family understand more about your stay on Ward M3 at the Salford Royal Hospital. It will explain ward routines and how your care will be planned from admission to discharge. This leaflet also contains useful information for your family, friends, and carers.

Ward M3 is in the orange area, level 4 of the Brooke building.

Our contact details:

Ward Manager - Tony Coia

Lead Nurse - Yvonne McGee

Quality Lead Nurse - Maria Fernandez

Ward Tel: 0161 206 4012

Our team is supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team:

Doctors - In our unit we have consultants, registrars and junior doctors.

Nursing team - Our nurses are specially trained and have experience in caring for service users with dermatology and rheumatology conditions.

Ward clerks - Have clerical and administrative responsibilities, such as filing paperwork, answering the phone, ordering transport, etc.

Student nurses, cadets, and medical students - During your stay in hospital, care and procedures may be carried out by students and other healthcare professionals under supervision and with your agreement, as part of a recognised teaching hospital.

Housekeeper - Our housekeeper will offer you breakfast, lunch and drinks. They will order your meals and ensure the ward is kept clean and tidy.

Domestics - Provide a clean environment for our service users and staff by providing a high-quality service and high standards of cleanliness, ensuring compliance with infection prevention and control standards.

The Speech and Language Therapy team (SALT) - Assess, diagnose and help service users manage communication, swallowing or voice disorders. Their aim is to maximise the potential of service users requiring their support to improve or maintain their communication and/or swallowing by promoting independence.

Dietitians - Provide dietetic advice and support to service users who may have lost weight, have a poor appetite, find eating and drinking difficult, require a feeding tube to support their nutrition, or would benefit from nutritional advice.

Physiotherapists - help patients to become more independent by supporting with improving their movement and core strength during their stay on the ward or for help with planning for discharge.

Occupational therapists - See service users who need support to carry out everyday activities or who require specialised equipment/ adaptions to support them at home.

Pharmacists - Review service users’ medications and ensure that drugs are dispensed and administered safely. They provide advice on treatments and its effects.

Discharge team - The Discharge Team will assist in planning safe discharges of those service users who will need ongoing support in the community or require a community placement on discharge.

Social workers - See service users who need ongoing support after discharge. This can include help with ensuring you have the right level of care in place before you go home or exploring other ways to help you and your family.

Palliative care team - Are a specialist team providing expert symptom control advice and emotional support to service users and their families during end of life care. The team work very closely with their colleagues in the community and can help put service users and their families in touch with the community palliative care teams and local hospices.
 
Spiritual Care Team - The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Centre is open 24 hours a day and welcomes service users, staff and visitors of all beliefs and philosophies. The centre can be found on Level 3, Hope Building and offers:

• The Oasis Room – a quiet space for reflection and relaxation
• The Chapel – Christian space and resources
• Shabbos Room – Jewish space and resources
• Prayer Room – Muslim space and resources including ablution facilities
• Chaplain's office
• Accessible bathroom

Translation and Interpretation Service - The Interpretation and Translation Service provides telephone, video, face to face and written language interpretation for over 100 languages spoken within the geographical area of the Trust. They also provide British Sign Language for service users who may be deaf or hearing impaired.

Uniforms

Uniforms worn by our staff on the ward:

Navy blue with yellow stripe - Lead Nurse

Navy blue tunic with white piping - Ward manager, Sister/Charge nurse and Specialist nurse

Royal blue tunic with white piping - Staff Nurse Striped light blue tunic - Healthcare Assistant White tunic with red piping - Student

Nurse Black tunic with blue piping - Housekeeper Lilac tunic with white piping - Domestic

White tunic with blue trim - Physiotherapist

White tunic with green trim - Occupational therapist White tunic with purple trim - Dietician

Beige tunic with white trim – Trainee nurse associate

Blue and white striped tunic with navy trim – Nurse associate

Ward round times

Our consultants will carry out their routine ward rounds daily. On days when there is no consultant ward round you will be seen by a registrar or another member of the treating team.

During the weekend and overnight it is the on-call medical team that care for our service users. They will not see every service user during the weekend so please do not worry if there has not been a ward round on these days. If you have concerns, please talk to a member of the nursing team.

Service users who are informed and involved in their care are more likely to return home quicker. We advise you to ask our team the following questions:

1. What is going to happen today? Is anything planned for tomorrow?
2. What needs to happen to get me home?
3. When am I going home? Is everything going to plan?

Supporting those with dementia and memory loss

We are a dementia friendly ward, and you will see signs, coloured handrails in bathrooms, and visible clocks from your bed area. Games, puzzles, and magazines are also available. If there is anything specific you require, please let the nursing staff know.

Reducing the number of days kept away from home

Remaining in bed can lead to deconditioning impacting your health and well-being. This may result in an increased risk of blood clots, pressure sores, falls, muscle wastage, infections, confusion, reduced appetite, low mood, longer hospital stay, and increased care needs upon discharge.

Our aim is to support you by keeping you out of bed and active and discharging you back to your normal residence decreasing the number of hours and days you are kept away from home.

Our staff will ask you about your routines at home, to bring your own clothes and to get out of bed at all mealtimes where able to. We will support you to become independent by providing support to get washed and dressed every day and to participate in active exercises and walks. The equipment and lists of exercises available have been provided by our physiotherapy team.

What can you bring to our ward

We would advise you to bring your “This is me”, “Traffic light” or “My Health Passport” leaflets if you have one, your medications and GP repeat prescription list, toiletries, any sanitary products you use, comfortable clothing to wear, non-slip shoes, your glasses and hearing aids. We’re unable to take care of your personal laundry, so ask a relative or friend to bring you enough clean items of clothing. A locker and a property box are provided at bedside to store your belongings, but space is limited so only bring in essential items that you really need. Service users bring valuables at their own risk. We recommend that you only bring a small amount of money in loose change. The Trust cannot accept responsibility for the loss of any valuables/ property not given to staff for safe keeping. Please do not bring large sums of money or valuable items such as jewellery into hospital.
 
Flowers are not permitted within the hospital. Your friends and family are encouraged to bring in an alternative gift such as a book, magazine or fresh fruit.

Visitors

We allow open visiting time from 10am to 7.30pm to give relatives, friends, and carers the chance to spend more time with their loved one at a time that suits them and have an active role in their care while they are in hospital.

We recommend two visitors at a time as large groups can disturb other service users rest and recovery. Children are permitted to visit please discuss this with our ward manager. Children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Visitors are not permitted to sit on your bed.

In order to maintain infection prevention and control measures, visitors who have been unwell with symptoms of cough, cold, fever, diarrhoea and/or vomiting should not come into the hospital until they have been free of symptoms. In case of diarrhoea and vomiting, visitors can come to the unit after being 72 hours symptoms free.

All visitors should wash their hands when they arrive and leave the unit.

We appreciate that your relatives may have questions for the team looking after you or they may be unable to visit you. We will be happy to answer any enquiries with your agreement and will also ask you to create a password –of your own choosing that the nominated relative or carer will use in identifying themselves to ward staff.

Mealtimes

We take nutrition very seriously. It is paramount to recovery and is a priority for all staff involved in your care. Mealtimes are at:

Breakfast: 7.30am - 8.45am

Lunch: 12 noon - 1pm

Tea: 5pm - 6pm

Service users who need help with eating or are experiencing a loss of weight and appetite will be given a red tray. The red tray highlights to the nursing staff that service users need extra help and food intake recorded.

We also use different coloured lids for water jugs. This identifies when the water in the jugs has been refreshed. Special diets are also available for religious and cultural reasons, as follows:

• Halal
• Kosher

Snacks are also available 24 hours upon request. If you are allergic to any foods or require any special diet, please ask one of the staff.

Restaurants/Cafés

A number of cafés are located on the hospital site, providing hot and cold selections throughout the day:

• Ground coffee pod (Turnberg Building) open Monday to Friday 7am - 2.30pm
• Ground Restaurant (Turnberg Building) open Monday to Friday 7.30am - 2.30pm
• The 48 Bakehouse (Hope Building) open Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm, weekends 9am – 5pm
• The Grumpy Mule (Hope Building) open Monday to Friday 9.30am - 2.30pm
• The Christie Café (The Christie at Salford Royal) open Monday to Friday 8am - 3.30pm

Additionally, a number of 24-hour vending machines are situated throughout the hospital.

Shops

Level one of the Hope Building houses a number of shops and retail units including a pharmacy, a newsagent and a food store.

Cashpoint

24-hour cashpoint facilities are located in Hope Building, Level one.

Consenting to treatment

We want to make sure that you fully understand your condition and the different treatment options available to you. Before you receive any treatment, your doctor will explain your treatment options, including the benefits, risks and any alternatives. You will be given time to think about the information provided and supporting information such as informative leaflets.

You may be asked to sign a consent form for your treatment. You can refuse treatment at any time, including after you have signed a consent form. If you are unsure, then please ask us for further clarification.

Sleeping

Hospitals can sometimes be noisy at night. We have ear plugs and eye masks available if you have difficulty sleeping. Please ask the nurse when receiving night medication.

Smoking

Strictly no smoking is allowed in either our buildings or grounds, including car parks. Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of ill health and premature death in the UK. As an organisation, we aim to provide a smoke free environment and are committed to protecting staff, service users and visitors against the effects of secondary smoke.

As part of our nursing assessment, all service users admitted to our hospital are asked if they smoke and if they have considered quitting. Support and advice are available to service users who would like help to quit smoking.

Car parking

Service Users and Visitor parking at Salford Royal is located on the main hospital site offering spaces on the Central car park and further spaces on the North car park. Both car parks are currently operated on a pay on exit system using barriers.

Service users and Visitor Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points are located at the Central car park and are provided by Podpoint. In these particular spaces, only electric or hybrid vehicles are permitted to park and payment must be made via the ticket/ pay on exit system. The duration of stay in these spaces is restricted to a maximum 4 hour parking period, with no return within 12 hours. Vehicles must be using the charging facility when parked. Charges for electricity used, if made, and instructions will be detailed/displayed as part of the charging unit.

Additional service users and visitors parking is available on the Stott Lane (East Car Park) which is managed by Salford City Council using separate payment systems and charge levels set by them.

Post

If you have any mail that requires posting, please ask a member of the ward staff. Cards and letters can be sent to you by clearly stating:

Ward M3 Salford Royal Hospital, 4th level Brooke Building, Stott Lane, Salford Greater Manchester, M6 8HD.

Falls, we all have a role to play

Please scan our “Falls Prevention” leaflet QR code to help us avoid falls in hospital. Paper copies are also available, and we will ask you which format do you prefer on admission to our ward.

You can also help reducing the risk of falling by:

• Making sure you have the call bell near you when getting into bed
• Telling the nurses that you may need help if you’re anxious about walking
• Being very careful when getting in and out of bed and standing up
• Walking around the ward
• Wearing well-fitting shoes or slippers and clothing that will not make you trip
• Using your walking aid, hearing aid and glasses if you have them 

Preventing pressure ulcers

You will also be asked to kindly scan our “Prevention of Pressure Ulcers” leaflet to help us avoid pressure ulcers during your hospital stay. Paper copies are also available, and we will ask you which format do you prefer on admission to our ward.

A pressure ulcer is an area of damage to the skin and underlying tissue and is more likely to occur if you have to stay in bed, in a chair or in a wheelchair for long periods of time.

Your risk of developing pressure damage will be assessed when you come into hospital and your nurse will come to you to prompt or assist you in changing your position. One of the best ways to prevent a pressure ulcer is to reduce or relieve pressure on the areas at risk by moving around and changing position as much as possible.

Preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE)

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a clot which has formed in a deep vein, usually in the leg. It most commonly starts in the calf veins but can extend up into the thigh veins. It can also occur in deep veins in other parts of the body.

Just being unwell and in hospital whether you are having surgery or not increases your chances of a DVT. We advise you to:

• Avoid prolonged periods of immobility such as sitting in a chair for many hours
• Keep moving or walking about as much as you can
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated

Our doctors will complete your venous thromboembolism assessment on admission and will advise you as to which treatment would be best suit you and your medical needs.

Please scan the QR code below for further information.

IPAAS (Inpatient Assessment and Accreditation System)

IPAAS is an established, comprehensive framework designed to understand how we deliver care, identify what works well and where further improvements are needed. The IPAAS reviews 14 key domains in relation to care delivery, the environment and ward leadership. Following an assessment, each clinical area is awarded a red, amber, or green status based on attainment.

Our latest IPAAS date and assessment outcome is on display in the main ward entrance board. If you would like to understand further details, please ask a member of staff.

Leaving the hospital

We will begin to talk to you about leaving the hospital (being discharged) on admission to our unit. Once we’ve agreed your discharge date with you, you’ll need to talk to your family, friends, or carers to make arrangements for your return home. If you require extra help putting in place, please inform the nursing staff as soon you can.

We will aim to prepare your discharge the day before so you can be discharged at the earliest opportunity.

Please make sure you take all your belongings with you, as well as any service user information, medicines and dressings you may need. You should also be given details of who to contact if you have any queries, along with a copy of your discharge summary which will include a list of medicines you need to take at home. You should arrange for a friend or family member to collect you from the hospital. If your medical condition means that you need to be transported by ambulance your nurse will arrange it for you.
 
Once you are ready to go home, you will be transferred to the discharge lounge whilst you wait for your medications to go home and/or transport.

Moving to a different hospital

If your condition is stable but you need a little more time to recover, you may be transferred to a different hospital or rehabilitation centre best suited to your needs. We will ensure you and your family are involved in this decision, and will work with your GP, community staff and others to ensure you continue to receive the best possible care.

Moving to residential care

If you are unable to return to your own home, support will be provided. Our hospital discharge team can provide a list of care homes and other helpful information and will work with you and your family to consider the best options. Talk to your nurse as soon as possible if you feel unable to return to your own home.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

PALS are a free and confidential service that provides help, advice and information for service users, families, and carers. They help our service users and families to find answers to questions or concerns regarding their care or treatment with the aim to resolve any problems as quickly and easily as possible.

PALS cannot provide advocacy, counselling, diagnosis, or medical advice. However, they can speak on your behalf to the people that can provide these services. PALS will contact clinical staff and departments to obtain information or investigate your concerns and then relay this information back to you.

You can contact PALS on 0161 778 5665 between 9.30am and 4.30pm hours Monday to Friday or via email on pals@nca.nhs.uk

For further information you can scan the QR code below. There are PALS leaflets available on the ward, please ask one of our nurses if you require a paper copy.

Complaints

The Trust has an open and honest approach in dealing with any concerns or if something has gone wrong. Clinical staff are always keen to resolve with any aspect of your care or your relative’s care, please speak to your Consultant, Ward manager or Lead Nurse who will be pleased to help you resolve any issues.

If your concern cannot be dealt with locally, you can complain formally to the Trust by emailing office.complaints@nca.nhs.uk or by calling the office on 0161 604 1141.

Zero Tolerance

We are committed to the well-being and safety of our service users and of our staff. Please treat other service users and staff with the courtesy and respect that you expect to receive. Verbal abuse, harassment and physical violence are unacceptable and will lead to prosecutions.

Tell us what you think about your stay

Feedback is of high importance to us and we value the opportunity to hear your thoughts regarding your stay. To help us improve our service we encourage patients and carers to complete a ‘Friends & Family Test’ survey.

You can provide feedback via:

• Scanning the QR code below
• Completing a paper survey
• Answering a text message that you will receive on discharge
• Leaving comments on the ward comments book

The comments our service users give get reviewed monthly and are a valuable way of getting feedback on how we are doing and on what we could improve.