General Medical Wards - Welcome to Ward T4 at Royal Oldham Hospital

Welcome to Ward T4 – Acute Medical Ward & Endocrine

Ward Manager: Danielle Dey

Ward Sisters/Charge Nurse: Nikitha John, Amy Gorton, Naveen Varghese, Adeola Okelola, Jeevamol Chacko

Ward Telephone Number: 0161 627 8854.

About Ward T4

Ward T4 is a 28 bedded ward which specialises in general medicine and endocrinology and other medical conditions. The ward consists of 3 bays and 4 side wards. Our aim is to provide high quality care to you as an individual, and all the staff would like to welcome you to the ward.

The ward is managed by Ward Manager Samantha Robinson who is usually available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, but other times can be arranged if required.

We are a Dementia friendly ward and work together as a team to provide a high standard of care.

This leaflet aims to help you and your family understand more about your stay on the ward. It explains the routine of the ward and how your care will be planned from admission to discharge.

This leaflet also contains useful information for your family, friends and carers. We will do our best to make you and your family/friends as comfortable as possible during your stay with us.

During your stay

Once you have been allocated your bedside locker and placed your belongings into it, please can you arrange for any big bags/ suitcases to be taken home until you are ready for discharge.

We have a limited number of side wards that accommodate one person only. These rooms may be used for several reasons, for example to prevent the spread of infection.

If you need a test or treatment in any other part of the hospital, we will make sure that you are appropriately dressed, and your privacy and dignity are always maintained.

Whilst you are here, you will meet several members of the team, who will introduce themselves and will be wearing an identification badge.

Every day you will be allocated a named nurse who will coordinate your care. They will write their name on the bedside board behind your bed. We also encourage you to let us know ‘what matters most to you’ each day, so that we can try and facilitate this as best as possible.

It is very important to us that your personal care and hygiene needs are met, for example: that there are no delays if you need help to go to the bathroom, and that we manage any pain that you may be experiencing effectively.

If you have any concerns about any aspect of your care, please talk to the Ward Manager, Ward Sister or Charge Nurse. If they are not available or you wish to talk to somebody from outside the ward, you can call a senior nurse 24 hours a day on 07970 199258.

If there is anything else we can do for you or your family whilst you are with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Admission

All patients will be welcomed to the ward and staff will ask how you would like to be addressed, for example: Mr, Mrs or first name. A detailed assessment, in the form of a friendly question and answer session will be undertaken by a member of the nursing team.

This is only done if your condition permits. Relatives or friends may be able to answer the questions for you on your behalf. The treatment you may require will also be explained at this time.

Please feel free to ask any questions at any point, and any information about your illness or stay in hospital will be treated in strict confidence.

If you are taking any medications, it is important to bring these to our attention on your admission.

Nursing Team

Nursing care on the ward is provided by a team of Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants. They have a wide range of skills as well as undertaking and supporting investigations and observations. To support the nursing team, we also have a Ward Clerk, Housekeeper, Domestic Assistant and Pharmacist. If you need any assistance at any time, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to any member of the team.

In addition to the department staff there are members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team who will be involved in your treatment and care dependent on the individual needs and requirements. These include: Doctors, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Speech and Language Therapists, Dietitians, and other Specialist Nurses. These colleagues are integral to patient care and contribute towards the assessment process to ensure safe and timely discharge from hospital.

Doctors

On our ward we have Consultants, Speciality Doctors and Junior Doctors. Your consultant will not always be available on the ward, but if you would like to speak to your consultant please advise the senior nursing team and they will be able to arrange this for you.

You can expect to be seen daily, Monday to Friday, by either your Consultant or a member of the medical team.

#EndPJParalysis – Get dressed, Get up, Get moving!

During your stay in hospital, it is important to remain mobile and independent. Spending just a few days in bed can be harmful to your muscles, causing deconditioning which can impact your mobility. We encourage patients to be dressed and mobile whilst in our care as their condition allows. Our hospital participates in the national #EndPJParalysis Campaign.

We ask that relatives bring the following items to help aid with your care and recovery:

Clothes:

•    Nightwear
•    Suitable footwear (non-slip slippers)
•    Dressing Gown
•    Comfortable Day Clothes
•    Underwear

Toiletries

•    Hairbrush/Comb
•    Soap/Showergel
•    Facecloth/Towel
•    Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Denture cleaner/Denture pot
•    Tissues
•    Shaving equipment
•    Deodorant

The hospital also supports and promotes ‘Johns Campaign’. If you have a relative with a cognitive impairment, we encourage you to stay with them as often as you wish, even during the restricted mealtimes, so that you can help and support them during their stay.

Mealtimes

We operate a protected mealtime policy. This is to ensure that our patients have uninterrupted time when they can eat their food in peace and that nursing staff are on hand to help if required. Visitors are asked not to visit during these times unless they are there to assist.

Mealtimes are at:

Breakfast 7.30am - 8.30am
Lunch 12 -1pm 
Evening Meal 5pm - 6pm

Drinks are provided throughout the day as well as with meals. Snacks are also available 24 hours a day so please ensure you ask staff and very importantly advise if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.

Visitors

Our visiting times are 8am to 8pm. Please be aware that if team members are with the patient you are visiting you may be asked to wait outside. We ask that visiting is avoided during mealtimes (as above) except in special circumstances. In special circumstances, we have facilities for loved ones to stay overnight and this can be discussed with a senior member of the nursing team.

Visitors are also asked kindly not to sit on patients’ beds or chairs and to use the visitor’s chairs which are provided on the ward, please return them when finished.

In order to prevent the spread of infection and illness, visitors who have been unwell with symptoms such as cough, cold, diarrhoea and/or vomiting should not come into hospital until they are free of symptoms, all visitors should use the alcohol hand gel when they arrive and leave.

Your relatives can phone your ward anytime for an update on your progress. It is a good idea to nominate one family member to be the main point of contact. Our ward contact number is 0161 627 8854.

Café Royal

The café royal is situated on the main corridor on the main entrance ground floor and their opening times are:

Monday to Friday 7.30am – 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 8am – 11am for breakfast only.
Breakfast is served between 7.30am - 10.30am Monday to Friday.

The shop

At the main entrance of the hospital, the shop is open until 8pm, 7 days a week. Staff, visitors and patients can buy sandwiches, snacks, meals and drinks.

Patient and Visitor Parking

Parking charges do apply from the parking machines available around the car parks.

Spiritual Care Team

Chaplains are available from different denominations and faiths and are supported by a team of volunteers. The nursing team can arrange a visit upon request. A Christian chapel is available to all in Chalmers Keddie for those who wish to pray or be quiet. This facility is open 6am-6pm. We also offer a Muslim Prayer Room with a women’s area which is open 24 hours.

Translation and Interpretation Service

The Interpretation & Translation service provides verbal and written language interpretation services for over 82 languages spoken within the geographical area of the Trust. They also provide The British Sign Language for patients with sensory difficulties, braille or large text documents for visually impaired.

Nursing Students, Cadets and Medical Students

Ward T4 is a teaching and learning environment therefore you may meet students from different disciplines. During your stay in hospital, procedures may be carried out by students and other healthcare professionals, as part of a recognised teaching/ development programme. You do not have to take part if you do not want to, and your treatment will not be affected. Please let a member of the senior nursing team know if this is the case.

Leaving the hospital

We will discuss discharging the hospital as soon as possible after your admission, so that we can prepare you.

Once we have agreed a discharge date with you, you will need to talk with family/friends/carers to make arrangements for your return home. If you feel you may require extra help with things at home such as washing, dressing or shopping, tell your nursing team as soon as you can.

Please make sure you take all your belongings with you, as well as any patient information leaflets, 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 medications you need to take home.

You should arrange for a friends 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 this for you.

Once you are ready to go home, you may be transferred to the discharge lounge where you will wait to be collected by your carers/friend or relative or by an ambulance.

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 and Family Test’ survey when you leave our ward. You can scan our QR code, fill out a feedback card or via text via telephone. The comments our patients give, get reviewed on a monthly basis and are a valuable way of getting feedback on how we are doing and what we can improve on.

Compliments, concerns and complaints

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

Please scan the QR code below to start the survey

If you have any complaints or concerns regarding your stay on Ward T4, please feel free to speak to your nurse or Ward Manager.

If you feel unable to communicate your complaint with ward staff, the Trust has the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) which is a confidential service that provides help, advice and information for patients, families and carers.

You can contact PALS by ringing 0161 778 5665 or by email pals@nca.nhs.uk