General Surgical Wards - Welcome to Ward T5/T6 - Surgical Triage Unit

Lead Nurse: Alison Birkett

Ward Manager: Lewisa Walker

Ward Sisters: Amy-Leigh Steenson, Alexandra Robb, Dawn Humphreys, Laura Cain, Amy Humphries, Hannah Plunkett and Hannah Rivett.

Ward Telephone Numbers:
T5 - 0161 627 8429
T6 - 0161 627 8253

Welcome to the Ward T5/T6 - Surgical Triage Unit

We will do our best to make you and your family/friends as comfortable as possible during their stay with us.

This information leaflet will aim to provide you with enough information to answer any questions or concerns you may have. If you do have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff on the ward.

If you have any concerns about the care of your relative/friend is receiving, please speak to the nurse in charge or call the urgent concern helpline on 07970 199258.

About the Ward

Ward T5/T6 is an multi-specialty emergency surgical ward that takes admissions direct from A&E and GP referrals, and clinics.

You may not always remain on T5/T6 for your full admission. When a bed becomes available on the specialty surgical wards you may be moved – sometimes at short notice, however we will make sure your relatives/carers are informed of this.

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. Our ward is split into two areas:

Ward T6 STU

This is the Surgical triage unit where most of our referrals are admitted via this route.

Whilst with us on STU, all patients are automatically asked to remain nil by mouth (NBM) to ensure we do not delay
any potential treatments. We understand this is difficult for some patients and if you need assistance with any of this, please ask a member of staff.

Unfortunately, whilst in STU some patients do experience long waits due to the high demand of the Surgical teams. Please feel free to ask for regular updates from any member of the team.

Ward T5/T6

As this ward is joined with Surgical Triage Unit (STU), this is a short stay ward with a fast turnaround. Sometimes we need to move patients around the ward to accommodate the activity in STU and A&E.

During your stay

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

In your hospital welcome pack, you will find a number of information leaflets which we ask you to read. These include information on what you can do to prevent any pressure damage to your skin whilst you are in hospital.

Also included in the pack is information regarding infection prevention and what you and your visitors can do to minimise the risk of infection.

On admission you will be provided with hand wipes which are for your own use. We ask that visitors use the hand gel provided at the hand hygiene stations upon entering and leaving the ward.

Visitors are also kindly asked not to sit on patient’s bed and armchairs. Unfortunately, due to infection prevention, fresh flowers are not permitted on the ward.

We encourage early mobility following surgery and our nursing and therapy teams will work with you to achieve this.

Your Treatment Plan

Your team of doctors will undertake a daily ward round. We will keep you fully informed of your treatment plan. We encourage you to ask questions about your treatment.

If you have any concerns regarding your treatment/information provided, please speak to the nurse who is looking after you and that shift. The Ward Manager is also available to speak to you on the ward.

We are aware that it is not always possible for your relatives/ friends to attend the ward to get an update on how you are.

However, we are also limited to the information we can give out over the telephone, so please can they bear this in mind when phoning the ward.

At this current time, due to the high number of telephone calls we receive to the unit, we ask that only one family member contacts the unit to get an update on your condition; we will ask this named person to create a password with the ward clerk or nursing staff and this person will need to provide this password when contacting the unit.

Although a doctor may not always be available on the ward, a member of staff will be available to give any updates.

Mealtimes

We operate a protected mealtime policy. This is to ensure that our patients have an 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 help patients to eat.

Mealtimes are at:

Breakfast - 8am - 8.45am
Lunch - 12noon - 1pm
Tea - 5pm - 6pm

Drinks are provided throughout the day as well as with meals.

The ward lights are switched off at approximately 11pm, but night lights and bedside lights are available.

If you come in via T5/T6 and miss these mealtimes, we have a small variety of foods available to offer.

Visitors

If visiting cannot be facilitated, we have other options during this time to help you stay connected with your loved ones and
staff are able to assist patients with phone calls and Facetime calls.

Only patients with special circumstances are able to request a passport which allows maximum of 2 people to visit apart from mealtimes. Please speak to a member of staff if you think you would be eligible for this.

#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 on 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:

• Night wear
• Suitable slippers (non-slip)
• Dressing gown
• Comfortable day clothes
• Underwear
• Shoes (avoid backless shoes)

Toiletries:

• Hairbrush/comb
• Soap
• Facecloth
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste/denture cleaner
• Towels
• Tissues
• Shaving equipment
• Deodorant

The Hospital also supports and promotes 'John's Campaign'.  If you have a relative with cognitive impairment, there are special measures in which we can arrange for visiting, so that you are able to help and support your loved one during their stay.

Teaching students

T5/T6 is a teaching and learning environment therefore you may meet Medical Students and Student Nurses.

There may also be trainee therapists working on the ward.

Specialist teams

Specialist teams also visit the ward.

These include:

• Colorectal Specialist Nurses
• Pain Management Team
• Palliative Care Team
• Infection Prevention Nurses
• Tissue Viability Nurses
• Urology Team
• Members of the Senior Nursing Team
• Hospital Chaplains

Maggie’s Oldham

Ward T5/T6 has close links with Maggie’s Oldham which is situated in the grounds of The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Maggie’s is a support centre for cancer care and is a warm, welcoming place where you can meet people who are experiencing the same things you are, find support groups specific to your needs and get advice and information from their professional staff.

Maggie’s Oldham can provide support for:

• Cancer and treatment information
• Cancer-specific support groups
• Help with understanding and claiming benefits
• Exercise and nutrition groups
• Support for family and friends
• Bereavement support
• Relaxation and stress management

“Maggie’s made me feel normal at a time when everything in my life was far from normal” - Cassie, Maggie’s Centre visitor.

If you or your loved ones would like more information about how to access Maggie’s please speak to a member of our nursing team.

You can find out more about Maggie’s on their website – www.maggiescentres.org
 
All beds are fitted with a Hospedia TV and phone. The patient line number is 0870 212 1234 + patient pin number. The phone can only be used once the patient has registered with the patient line system and the pin number will appear on screen. Calls to numbers beginning 01, 02 and 03 are currently free of charge.

The hospital operates a no-smoking policy that applies to all buildings and hospital grounds. Patients must speak to a member of staff before leaving the ward. Whilst in hospital, if you are connected to any medical equipment, you must always remain on the ward.

When you are ready to go home you may be transferred to the Hospital Discharge Lounge which is located on Ward C1. This may be as early as 8.30am (following breakfast). This is to release beds as early as possible for new patients to be admitted.

On C1 Discharge Lounge you can wait for your medications to arrive from pharmacy, and for relatives to pick you up.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Our aim is to provide a positive patient experience during your stay with us. Please participate in the Friends and Family survey when received.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) acts on behalf of service users, families, and carers to negotiate prompt solutions and help bring about changes in the way that services are developed.

As well as providing a confidential advice and support service, PALS will help guide you through the different services available from the NHS.

Telephone: 0161 778 5665

Email: pals@nca.nhs.uk

Alternatively, you can write to:

PALS Department, The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Unit 7/8 Whitney Court, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton Street, Oldham, OL4 1DB.

Comments and complaints

We want to learn from comments and complaints about our services. If you have any, please speak with a member of staff. Every effort will be made to resolve any concerns and complaining will not cause any difficulties in your care with us.

You can also contact our Complaints Department via post at:

Complaints Department, The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Unit 7/8 Whitney Court, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton Street, Oldham, OL4 1DB.
Email: office.complaints@nca.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0161 656 1141