During your stay
Your operation
Please ensure that you make all necessary preparation for your
operation, including removing nail varnish, nail extensions and
cosmetics. Plain wedding bands may be worn but will be covered with
tape prior to surgery. It is requested that any other jewellery
including body piercings are removed and kept safely at home or
given to a relative for safe keeping.
To the theatre
You will be accompanied to the theatre by a nurse/health care
assistant (HCA), porter or a member of the theatre staff. If you
are having a general anaesthetic you will wake up in the recovery
area and will be looked after by a recovery nurse before returning
to your room.
After your operation
If you have had a general anaesthetic you may feel drowsy at
first. When you are fully awake (and depending on the type of
surgery) you may be able to have a drink and perhaps something to
eat. The nurse will continue to monitor your pulse and blood
pressure regularly as appropriate. We advise that you do not get
out of bed unaided. Immediately following your surgery, until
informed that you may do so by your nurse.
Your room, TV and telephone
All bed linen and towels are provided. A remote controlled
colour television and radio are also provided, and there is
comfortable seating for your guests. There is an additional £5
charge for the remote control. In addition, each room has a direct
dial telephone for your personal use: calls are metered and charged
to your account from the time of admission. Every room features a
nurse call system located at the bedside, and there is also a
pull-cord alarm in the bathroom.
Meals
All meals are freshly prepared using healthy ingredients to aid
your recovery. Special and light diets will be prepared for
patients following procedures under general anaesthetic.
Vegetarians and those patients with any special cultural or
religious requirements, can also be catered for. Breakfast, lunch
and dinner will be served at normal times. Beverages are served mid
morning, mid afternoon, and in the evening, and are also available
at other times.
Smoking policy
All hospitals have a non-smoking policy. Our nursing staff can
help smokers with any concerns they may have before coming into
hospital. Ramsay Health Care facilities may or may not have
designated areas for smoking outside the hospital–please ask if
your hospital provides such areas. Smoking is strictly prohibited
in the vicinity of oxygen units.
Visitors
Friends and relatives are welcome to visit at any reasonable
time of the day, subject to medical considerations. We would
appreciate if visits could be made between 8am and 9pm (please note
that this may vary between hospitals). For security reasons your
visitors should report to reception on arrival and subsequently
inform ward reception of their presence.
Information for relatives
Your friends and relatives may call for information about your
progress. They should ask to speak to the nurse in charge of your
care.
In-patient service
We offer a fax and postal service for outgoing mail.