Neurosurgery - Welcome to the Neuro Short Stay Unit (NSSU)

Neuro Short Stay Unit is an 18 bedded male and female elective spinal/neurosurgery ward with a range of complex and elective spinal and head patients. We take patients with a wide range of issues/operations such as:

• Neuro surgical patients
• Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar Decompressions
• Anterior Cervical Decompression & Fusion (ACDF)
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Cauda Equina
• Discitis (Infection of the Spinal Discs)
• Spinal fractures
• Conservatively managed injuries using braces and collars

The ward consists of 5 bays with 2 or 4 beds in each bay and 2 side rooms.

We have a day room at the top of the ward where patients or patients and their relatives can enjoy and sit together with board games, books or enjoy meals together.

Contact Details

Ward NSSU is situated in the Humphrey Booth Building on Level 1.

The contact number for Ward NSSU is 0161 206 4600 or 0161 206 7856.

We advise that you ring the ward after 9am as the nursing staff will be completing medication rounds, personal cares and ensuring patients have had their breakfast.

Ward Manager

The current ward manager is Hannah Lawless.

Hannah can be contacted at any point between the hours of 7am – 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

If Hannah is unavailable a message can be left with the nursing staff, and she will contact you at the earliest convenience.

Contact details are as follows:

Email: Hannah.lawless@nca.nhs.uk
Phone: 0161 206 7209

If you provide input from higher management then Lead Nurse Kirsty Gowers can be contacted and contact details can be provided on request.

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.

Visiting Times

Within the NCA we now operate a longer visiting period.

Visiting times now operate between the hours of 10am – 7pm, 7 days a week.

Please ensure that there are only 2 visitors per bedside at any one time. You will be asked to use the chairs provided and not to sit on the patient’s bed.

We do operate protected mealtimes between 12 noon – 1pm and 5.30pm – 6.30pm and ask currently that this is respected to ensure patients are given privacy during mealtimes. If you/your relative require assistance with your meals, then arrangements can be discussed for this.

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 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.

Reducing the number of days kept away from home

Within the NCA we are currently aiming to reduce the number of days patients now spend within the hospital. Prolonged stay within hospital can lead to deconditioning impacting your health and well-being. This may result in an increased risk of blood clots, pressure ulcers, falls, muscle wastage, infection, delirium, weight loss and low mood which can increase care needs upon discharge.

Our aim is to support you by keeping you out of bed and active, whilst trying our hardest to ensure that you are discharged to your normal residence, decreasing the 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. 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.

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.

Recommendations

We recommend that as a patient/relative you bring in some personal clothes such as:

• Comfy lounge wear
• Underwear
• Pyjama’s
• Safe footwear
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Shower gel/soap

We do advise on the ward that any personal property such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops etc are brought in at your own risk.

Mealtimes

We take nutrition very seriously within the NCA. It is paramount to recovery and is a priority for all staff involved in your care.

Mealtimes are at:

Breakfast: 8am – 9am
Lunch: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Tea: 5pm – 6pm

If you/your relative requires assistance with eating or are experiencing a loss of weight and appetite, a red tray will be provided during mealtimes. The red tray indicates to the nursing staff that you/your relative requires extra help and food intake recorded.
Specialised dietary needs can be met for the following:

• Halal
• Kosher
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten Free
• Altered diet/fluid requirements

Please be advised that if you are bringing in meals for your relative that these meals will not be able to be reheated. Home cooked meals/snacks such as sandwiches are not able to be kept refrigerated also due to unknown ingredients/expiration date and must be consumed on the day or sent home.

If any known food allergies, please ensure staff are aware of these as soon as possible.

Sleeping/Nighttime

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 evening medications.

Policy is in place within the NCA to ensure that between the hours of 1pm – 6am that loud noises are not to be tolerated such as patients having phone calls during these hours or watching TV with no headphones. Patients will be asked politely to respect our policy.

Please bear in mind that admissions/transfers can happen during this time and staff will try to be as quiet as possible.

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.

Infection Control

Due to infection control precautions the ward is not able to have balloons or flowers on the ward at the bedside. We also advise that any photographs, pictures, or letters are laminated so that they can be kept clean to prevent any infections.

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.

Patient/Relative Feedback

If you would like to leave any patient/relative feedback, there are many options to be able to do this:

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

Twitter/X: @NSSU_SCO

Patient Feedback book

Friends & Family Test Survey - This survey can be completed by scanning the below QR code or if you are unable to do this or struggle with technology then a paper survey can be provided on request.