Your Inpatient Stay

Upon arrival at the hospital please report to the Reception Area as detailed in your admission letter. Please let reception staff know immediately if you have changed your name, address, telephone number, or your GP.

The receptionist will provide you with directions to the appropriate ward area. In the event that you are moved to a different ward to aid your recovery, a member of the nursing team will explain the circumstances to you and ensure that you are comfortable at all times.

What to bring into hospital

We suggest you bring the following items to make your time with us as comfortable and easy as possible:

• your admission letter
• casual loose fitting clothes for the day
• hairbrush, comb and shampoo
• toothpaste, toothbrush, denture pot, denture cleaner
• soap, face wash, shower gel, moisturiser and other toiletries
• towels, face cloth, sponge
• deodorant
• shaving equipment
• sanitary care
• all the prescribed medicines you are already taking
• a small amount of money for the telephone, newspapers and soft drinks
• hand wipes, tissues or paper handkerchiefs
• if you normally use an aid or appliance please bring this with you
• change of nightwear and underwear, slippers and dressing gown 
• Please do not bring valuables or large sums of money with you as the hospital cannot guarantee their safety and will not accept responsibility for the loss of any items unless they are handed over for safekeeping and you are given a receipt.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust does not accept responsibility or any liability for cash, valuables or personal property brought onto Trust premises unless they are handed over for safe custody and an official receipt obtained. This receipt MUST be presented upon retrieval of such goods.

Single sex accomodation

You will be cared for in a single sex bay within a ward unless you require dependency care. These units are mixed sex, however every effort will be made to respect your privacy. Bathrooms and toilets are designed to provide a range of facilities appropriate for your care, whilst offering the most privacy.

If you are concerned regarding your accomodation please inform the staff who will try and provide you with an alternative.

Virtual Tours

We have virtual tours of some areas of our hospital. These can be viewed here.
 

Patient bedside folder

We have put together a patient folder for every bed at the Trust. The folder contains a bedside guide and new patient menu, ensuring that patients have all the information they need during their stay.

You can view an electronic version below.

 

 

Further information

The A-Z sections below give more advice on aspects of your stay.

After your discharge

After your discharge from hospital a letter will be sent to your GP giving information regarding your stay in hospital and advising of any recommendations for your care at home.

Flowers on the ward

Flowers are not allowed in some wards. Your visitors should check with a member of staff on your ward before bringing in flowers. Potted plants are not permitted.

Food

We would advise against bringing in items of high risk food which include: cooked meat and poultry, eggs, cream cakes, meat products, milk products, or prepared sandwiches. These recommendations are made to protect patients from the dangers of food poisoning. However, your visitors may bring in items of fruit, biscuits etc. Should you feel it necessary for your visitors to bring you additional food items please discuss this with a member of the nursing team before making any arrangements.

Gifts

Gifts are welcomed but please bear in mind the following: you may have restrictions on what you can eat or drink. You will be able to check with a member of the ward staff. Alcohol is not permitted. Your visitors may bring in books, magazines, soft drinks etc. You will only have small, non-locking storage available to store your possessions, so valuable gifts are not permitted.

Giving Consent

If you are to have an operation or clinical procedure, the doctor will explain the nature and extent of it to you and you will be asked to sign a form stating that you consent to the operation being performed.

Going Home

When you are ready to be discharged a member of the nursing team will help you to prepare for your discharge. You will be provided with any specific instructions regarding your treatment and any drugs that you require as part of your continuing care at home. Please make certain that no hospital clothing, library books etc, are taken home accidentally. If you do take hospital property home by mistake please return it to the ward.

If you are required to attend an outpatient appointment, the ward clerk will ensure that either a request for an appointment or an actual appointment has been made prior to your discharge from hospital.

Health Information Centre

Access to good, reliable health information is essential to keep you informed about your condition and treatment options. It also enables you, together with medical staff, to make informed decisions about your healthcare.

The service provided by the Health Information Centre at University Hospital ensures that all patients, staff and visitors, have access to high quality health information on conditions, procedures and treatments.

Further detail on the Health Information Centre

Hairdressing

We understand that if you are in hospital for any length of time, you might want to have your hair cut. Unfortunately, the hospital does not provide a hairdressing service. This is due to small hair cuttings which could be left on a patient's clothes or body and then transferred into the patient's bed, this could become unhygienic and uncomfortable.

The hospital takes pride in its hygiene and infection control practice and therefore, we suggest that when you know about your discharge date, speak to a relative, carer or friend to help you make an appointment with a local hairdresser in your community when you're back at home.

Hospital amenities

Shopping facilities, drinks and light meals are available to visitors and mobile patients during the day on all sites. Newspapers are regularly delivered to wards and are also on sale at the hospital shops.

Interpreting service

A face to face and telephone interpreting services is available in our hospitals, and we are also able to provide written translations. This includes people who use British Sign Language (BSL) or those who require written information in Braille. There are also a number of staff who are able to interpret a variety of languages. If English is not your first language or you need a BSL interpreter, please ask the staff to access this service for you.

Leaving the ward

Please tell a member of staff if you leave your ward - even for a short time.

Meals

During your hospital stay we will provide you with three meals a day. We can also provide lunch box snacks if you have missed a meal.

We operate protected mealtimes in all of our adult wards. At set times throughout the day, all non-urgent clinical activity stops to help patients eat their meals in a calm atmosphere.

Meal times

Breakfast 8.00am – 9.00am

Lunch 11.30am – 1.00pm

Dinner 5.00pm – 6.00pm

We offer hot drinks and snacks throughout the day. If your meal is unsuitable, please let your  nurse know so we can offer an alternative where possible.

Medical certificates

If you require Medical Certificates please inform the ward staff who will be able to assist you.

Details of financial help are available to patients and visitors on low incomes who are unable to afford the cost of fares to the hospital. If you require this information please ask the ward clerk who will provide you with a leaflet.

Medical Students

University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust is a university teaching NHS Trust and both our hospitals are a training centre for the next generation of doctors, nurses, midwives and healthcare staff. 

The student’s status and reason for their presence will be explained to you by a senior doctor or a member of the nursing team and your consent obtained. If you do not wish the medical students to be present during your consultation with your doctor you have the right to refuse. If you do not know who a member of staff is at any time do not hesitate to ask them to explain who they are and what they do.

Nail Varnish

It is possible to monitor how well your blood is oxygenated by looking at the colour of your nails. Therefore, if you are due to have an operation please ensure that you are not wearing nail varnish upon admission to hospital. The wearing of nail varnish is not permitted in theatre and the removal of this can cause unnecessary delays to theatre lists.

Postal arrangements

Post is delivered to the wards on a daily basis. Please ask your friends and relatives to state your full name and ward clearly on the front of the envelope and their own name and address on the back of the envelope. If you wish to post any letters during your stay, please hand these to a member of the nursing team who will arrange to post them for you.

Privacy and dignity

Throughout your stay your privacy, dignity, religious and cultural beliefs will be respected. You will be cared for in a single sex bay within a ward except in an emergency or you require high dependency care. These units are mixed sex, however every effort will be made to respect your privacy. 

Radio and television

Earphones will provide you with a choice of radio stations including our own hospital channel. In order to reduce the disturbance to other patients it is important that personal headphones are used with television and radios at all times.

Smoking

Our buildings and grounds, including car parks are smoke free. This means that smoking is not permitted anywhere on site. As a hospital Trust we protect our patients, visitors, staff buildings and equipment from the dangers and consequences of second-hand smoke.

NHS Stop Smoking Services are available to help you before, during and after hospital, providing a range of support and medication. Call 024 7696 4760 to speak to an advisor and receive advice to support you.

Social workers

Social Workers are available to help you or your relatives with any personal problems you may be experiencing as a result of your stay in hospital. If you would like to discuss any anxieties or difficulties over benefits, or about your work or family, please ask your named nurse or a member of the nursing team to arrange for you to see a Social Worker who will advise you of a named organisation who can provide more detailed assistance.

Spiritual care

We offer care and support but you can choose the level and nature of that support. It is freely available to all, whether you are have a faith or not. We provide spiritual, emotional and religious care and we want you to keep in touch with who you are while you are in hospital.

Member of the Chapliancy Team are drawn from the main faith communities here:

• Church of England/Anglican
• Free Churches
• Hindu
• Muslim
• Roman Catholic
• Sikh

The Chaplains are employed by the NHS. You can expect to be treated with privacy, dignity and confidentiality by us at all times. 

Visiting

Our hospital wards are busy areas. They are a place of work for our doctors and nurses and a place of rest and recuperation for our patients. Please ensure that your visitors only come to visit you during official visiting times.

These are:
Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8pm and
Saturday and Sunday 2pm to 4pm and 6.30pm to 8pm (our maternity visiting times are slightly different, see below for details).

We know that in certain clinical circumstances it may be necessary for visiting to take place outside the above hours. This is at the discretion of the Ward Manager and will take place in discussion with patients and families. Please contact the Ward Manager for more details.

Visiting hours for the maternity wards (12.30pm to 8pm for one birthing partner only. Otherwise 6.30pm to 8pm each day for friends and family.  No children are allowed except the parents own) and critical care vary from standard visiting hours. Please check with staff.

Number of visitors - rest is often an essential part of recovery. We ask that no more than two people visit with you at any one time.

All visitors are reminded to use the alcohol hand rub provided when entering and leaving wards.