General Surgical Wards - Surgical Enhanced Care Unit

Surgical Enhanced Care Unit is situated in the end bays on wards B1/B2 which is on the first floor of the Irving building (blue area) at Salford Care Organisation part of the Northern Care Alliance. The ward has 10 beds, which consist of a bay of 5 female beds and 5 male beds we currently have no side room facilities. Our dedicated, professional ward staff provide 24-hour nursing care on a ratio of 1 nurse to 3-4 patients.

Patients on this unit require closer monitoring for a short period of time before being moved onto the general ward. Patients will be attached to monitoring which will monitor their heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels.

Patients will usually have invasive lines which allow the nurses to give stronger medications and allow us to obtain blood for regular testing.

We are committed to offer you quality care and excellent customer service, ensuring a comfortable and positive experience on our surgical ward.

The services we offer include inpatient care for both emergency and elective surgical procedures for a range of specialities and work closely with specialist nursing teams to ensure the highest standards of care.

Telephone Numbers

The contact numbers for the ward are: Male Nursing Station - 0161 206 7053
Female Nursing Station - 0161 206 7052
Ward manager’s office - 0161 206 8503

Expectations

As your care provider

• We aim to provide the right care at the right time to ensure that your needs are met
• We will discuss and agree any equipment/ support that you may need
• We will fully involve you in planning your discharge, together with a relative, carer or friend as appropriate
• When your treatment is complete, it is important that your discharge is not delayed

As a patient

• Please keep belongings to a minimum due to reduced storage space around the bed area. Patients may not always require clothing in the first 24 hours due to the lines and monitoring equipment. Patients are required to wear hospital gowns. Although as you become ready for step down to the ward or discharge home then your own clothing can be brought in to be worn
• We have our own toiletries although if you prefer your own wash soap, toothbrush and tooth paste please bring this in. No towels are required as we use hospital towels for infection control purposes
• Due to the medications, monitoring equipment and attachments patients are usually unable to go off the unit or outside whilst in the higher care area 
• Please let your next of kin know that if you are stepping down to the general ward or going home, if you’re unable to get in touch with them, please inform the nurse providing your care
• You will need to arrange your own transport home, where possible
• Please let us know if you need a medical certificate (Fit note)

Infection Control

Due to infection control precautions, the ward is not able to have any flowers, or pot plants at the patient’s bedside. We also advise that any photos, pictures, or letters are laminated so that they can be cleaned to prevent any infections.

Medication

Medication will be supplied on discharge, but this will be a limited supply, you will need to contact your GP as normal, to arrange your repeat prescription. We will discuss your medication with you prior to discharge, please do not hesitate to ask any questions regarding your medications. If you have any questions after discharge, please discuss with your GP or community pharmacist.

Visiting times

Surgical Enhanced Care operates a visiting policy from 10am-19.30pm.

If visiting is required out of these times, then this must be agreed with the nurse in charge on the morning of the visit as morning times are our busiest times with all the multiple specialist team ward rounds.

We request 2 visitors per bed due to space restrictions around the bed areas.

Non-smoking Trust

Prior to admission, please speak to either your GP or pre-op nurse if you smoke as this is a tobacco free trust, and it might be helpful for you to obtain Nicotine Replacement Patches, or we can refer you to the Smoking Cessation Nurse on your admission.

Quality of Care

It is important to all the surgical team, doctors, nurses, and support staff that the care you receive is of the highest quality, delivered in a professional manner in a clean, safe environment.

Any concerns or worries you or your family have should be referred to B2M Ward Manager Claire Skeer. Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice & Liaison Service either through the nursing staff or by phoning them direct.

Discharge

Due to being within a higher level of care environment, you will be stepped down to the ward B1/B2 prior to going home although depending on some cases patients are discharged home from the ward.

Please discuss any concerns you have about your discharge with your nurse or medical team prior to your discharge day so they can ensure all questions are answered to your satisfaction. Please make sure you have any prescribed medications, if required a sickness certificate and you have received a copy of your Discharge Summary.

As a ward we value patient feedback to support improvement on the ward. Staff will ask you to complete a survey which is completed via using a QR code.