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WARD
No matter if you’re a visitor or patient, it helps to know what to expect when visiting a ward.
There are various different types of wards
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General Wards.
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Specialist Wards.
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High Dependency Units (HDU).
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Surgical Wards.
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Isolation Wards.
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Mental Health Wards.
When preparing to go into a ward, it’s important to know what to expect. Our information below will help you prepare and the type of staff you’re likely to encounter.
Staying in a hospital ward can be challenging. However, knowing what to expect and how to prepare can make it easier. If you’re feeling anxious about your stay or visit, speak up to hospital staff — they are there to help.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
REMEMBER - you are A CUSTOMER OF THE NHS so have your SAY IN YOUR TREATMENT!
The law should help to PROTECT YOU.
It can feel scary but the more you know, the better it should be.
So TAKE CONTROL !
DO ⬇️
REFER to the below throughout (letters, meetings, conversations ..).
The list is not exhaustive however below are some useful starting points:
• NHS Constitution (GOV) - LINK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england)
• Patient Rights (Age UK) - LINK (https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/health-services/healthcare-rights/)
• Equality Act 2010 (GOV) - LINK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance)
• Martha's Rule (NHS) - LINK (https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/)
• Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Mind) - LINK (https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/mental-capacity-act-2005/overview/)
• Human Right's Act 1998 (Citizen's Advice) - LINK (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/civil-rights/human-rights/the-human-rights-act-1998/)
• Disability Law Service (DLS) - LINK (https://dls.org.uk/)
• Mental Health Act 1983 (NHS) - LINK (https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/social-care-and-your-rights/mental-health-and-the-law/mental-health-act-easy-read/)
• Care Act (CQC) - LINK (https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/adult-social-care/care-act-easements-it)
DO ⬇️
• ASK to read your medical notes / observations while you are there.
• Check any process for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) - LINK (https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major-report/state-care/2022-2023/dols)
DoLs support safety for people in care homes and hospitals while not taking away their rights.
You may have gone from A&E or Intensive Care to a Ward below:
• General Wards, which are for patients needing routine hospital care, such as post-surgery recovery, or general medical issues.
• Specialist Wards. These focus on specific medical areas such as cardiology, orthopaedics, neurology, or maternity.
• High Dependency Units (HDU), for patients needing closer monitoring but not as intensive as ICU.
• Surgical Wards for pre- and post-operation care.
• Isolation Wards, for patients with infectious diseases to prevent the spread of illness.
• Mental Health Wards. This is where patients requiring psychiatric care and crisis management are.
DO ⬇️
NOTE:
• Ward number, name and telephone number.
• Bed / Bay number.
• Visiting Hours / handover hours.
• Parking / Access.
• Quiet / Prayer Rooms.
DO ⬇️
Take some FAMILIAR THINGS:
• Family / friend pictures.
• Familiar sensory items - smells / touch / sounds.
• Toys / games.
• Music.
• Books / Magazines.
DO ⬇️
• Check if you are eligible for carer entitlement to free parking.
• Ask to read your medical notes and observations.
• Limit visitors or do a timetable.
Wards are normally managed by a Ward Manager / Senior Nurse.
The Consultants usually do 'the rounds' in the morning to check your medical status
Care is usually a higher ratio of patients to staff, including:
• Consultant /Nurse
• Colour coded by uniforms (NHS) - LINK (https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Patients-and-Visitors/For-inpatients/Who's-who-%E2%80%93-what-our-different-uniforms-mean.aspx)
Other Staff could include:
• Surgeon
• Dietician
• Speech Therapist / SALT
• Physiotherapist, Occupational Health - mobility / rehabilitation
• Pharmacist
• Chaplain
Wards usually have:
- A lower PATIENT TO STAFF ratio
- INDIVIDUAL rooms or SHARING a room of 4 people
EQUIPMENT
Staff may take your 'OBSERVATIONS' with MONITORS to check:
• Blood Pressure
• Pulse
• Respiratory
• Oxygen
HOW TO READ A MONITOR (WIKI) - LINK (https://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Hospital-Monitor)
TESTS
Staff may take tests for more in-depth examinations:
• Bloods (NHS) - LINK (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-tests/) + LINK(https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/blood-tests/common-blood-tests)
• Medical Images X-rays, CT Scan, MRI (GOV) - LINK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-imaging-what-you-need-to-know/medical-imaging-what-you-need-to-know--2)
• ECG (British Heart Foundation) - LINK (https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/tests/ecg)
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) - LINK (https://www.glasgowcomascale.org/)
• Patient Info - L(https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/blood-tests/common-blood-tests)INK(https://patient.info/about-tests-and-investigations)
DO: ⬇️
ASK EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO, REMEMBER YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER AND HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW EVERYTHING .
WHO ?
• is the doctor in charge of me / my main contact during my stay in this Ward?
WHAT ?
• is wrong with me?
• will happen next?
• is the equipment for?
• could go wrong with me?
• are my treatment options?
WHY ?
• am I being observed or admitted?
HOW ?
• is pain controlled?
• long is recovery?
WHEN ?
• will things happen?
• will I be called if anything changes?
WHERE ?
• is there a private area to talk?
• is there any place nearby to stay at night?
• is there any place to wait besides the waiting room?
• are there facilities for food and drink?
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