Welcome to The Sheffield Vascular

Institute

Northern General Hospital

Sheffield Vascular Institute

Information for patients

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Index page

Welcome to the Vascular Institute 3

About the Unit 4

Unit Philosophy 5

Admission to Hospital 6

Bringing Your Medication With You 6

Ward Facilities 7

Nurse Call System 8

Meal Times and Patient Nutrition 8

Moving and Handling 10

Patient’s Property 10

Visitors 11

Violence and Aggression 12

Cultural and Religious Needs 12

Privacy and Dignity 13

Smoking 14

Medical Notes and Confidentiality 14

Discharge Planning 15

Some Frequently Asked Questions 17

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Welcome to the Vascular InstituteFirth 2 and Vascular Angio Day Ward are part of SouthYorkshire Regional Services and collectively known as theSheffield Vascular Institute.

Firth 22 is located on B floor of the Firth Wing and this iswhere most vascular inpatients stay.

Vascular AAngio DDay WWard is where most vascular day casepatients stay to have tests or procedures carried out in theangio department. It is located on D floor of theHuntsman Wing and is close to Diagnostic Imaging (X-Ray)and Accident and Emergency.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustmanages the five major hospitals in Sheffield

– the Northern General, Royal Hallamshire, Jessop Wing,Weston Park and Charles Clifford Hospitals.

As a Trust we are responsible for the planning and deliveryof the highest quality patient care, providing services forpatients not only from Sheffield and South Yorkshire butall parts of the UK.

We have an annual budget of around £690 million andtreat almost one million patients each year, making us thesecond largest NHS Trust in England.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals was originally created throughthe merger of the the Central Sheffield University Hospitalsand Northern General NHS Trusts in April 2001.

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About the UnitMatron is the person with overall responsibility for patientcare and the environment. If you have any concerns orwould like to discuss your treatment with Matron then thiscan be arranged for you. Please let a member of the wardteam know and they can make the necessaryarrangements or you can contact her directly via thehospital switchboard, 2434343, bleep 830.

Senior sisters have ongoing responsibility for theirward/department. They are supported by junior sisters,who are responsible for the day to day management of theward/department and are experts in their field.

We also have Vascular Nurse Specialists who will beinvolved in your care. This is mainly in the outpatientclinics at Sheffield, Rotherham or Barnsley Hospitals. Theirrole on the ward is the supervision of complicated woundsand advising staff working on the ward.

If at any time you or your family have any concerns aboutyour care, please speak to the nurse in charge.

Telephone nnumbers:

Firth 22 0114 2271 446030114 2271 44685

Angio dday wward 0114 2226 99528 (Monday-Friday 8am - 6pm)

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Unit PhilosophyThe multidisciplinary team within Sheffield VascularInstitute are committed to helping patients meet theirindividual needs.

We will work in partnership with patients, families andcarers to plan and deliver high quality care provided by askilled team.

We believe in the following:

• Privacy and dignity will be maintained at all times

• Patients will be able to make informed choices abouttheir care and treatment

• All patients will have equal access to our servicesirrespective of age, ethnicity and gender

• All patients and visitors will be treated respectfully

• If you are not happy with any aspect of your care youwill be supported through the complaints procedure

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Admission to HospitalElective AdmissionIf your admission into hospital has been planned in advancemost of your medical and nursing assessment will have beencompleted before admission in the centralised pre-assessmentclinic. However, some tests may be performed once you areadmitted to the ward. A plan of care is developed individualto your needs. We aim to involve and inform you and yourfamily at all stages of treatment.

Emergency AdmissionIf you are admitted as an emergency into the hospital, all ofthe relevant information and examination will take place onceyou arrive. A plan of care will then be developed for yourindividual needs.

Bringing your Medication with youFirth 2It is very important that you bring all medication into hospitalwith you in its original packaging. This is so that the staffinvolved in your care can see exactly what medication anddosage you are taking.

Emergency medicines for angina, breathing conditions anddiabetes may be kept on your locker. This may be inhalers,GTN sprays and diabetic snacks. Please bring us an up-to-date copy of your repeat prescription list from yourdoctor.

Angio Day WardWhen you are admitted to the Angio DDay WWard, please bringonly medication, inhalers and sprays that you need to take

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while you are with us. Please bring in any diabeticemergency snacks/drinks that you may need. If you havenot already done so, please bring us a copy of your repeatprescription list from your doctor.

If you take Warfarin you will have been advised if youneed to stop this or continue as normal.

Ward Facilities

Firth 2Firth 22 has two bathrooms with hoist baths and toiletfacilities all of which are suitable for disabled patients. Wealso have a wet room which has disabled access. Thereare four bays, each for 8 single sex beds. All have toiletfacilities and two have shower/wet rooms. Also there are8 cubicles some of which have ensuite toilet and showerfacilities.

The ward has a large spacious dayroom. We doencourage our patients and their families to use thisfacility. Once you are well enough we aim to serve yourmeals here. We also have a private quiet room on theward that is available for patients and their families to talkto the hospital staff in private. Please ask us if you wishany of your consultations to be held in a private room andwe will do our best to accommodate this.

Angio Day WardThe Day Ward has three beds and two recovery chairs.Showers and baths are not provided. To respect theprivacy and dignity of all patients, and because space is

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very limited on the Day Ward, we ask relatives and friendsto drop off and collect rather than wait in the department.

Nurse Call SystemSituated at the side of each bed, in bathrooms and toiletsthere are orange coloured pull cords or buttons forassistance from staff.

The wall pull button is for emergencies only.

Once this button is activated, an orange light is switchedon above your bed, outside the toilet or bathroom. Thisalerts staff you need assistance and a member of staffcaring for you will answer as quickly as possible.

Firth 2 Meal Times and Patient NutritionThe hospital offers a choice of meals to suit medical andcultural needs, so please inform a member of staff if youhave any special dietary requirements. Nutrition is high onour list of priorities for basic care needs and a well-nourished patient will recover better from surgery.

Please discuss with your nurse if you are experiencing anydifficulties eating so we can address the problem straightaway.

We can call upon a dietician for advice for any problemsyou are experiencing.

Food is served at the following times:(all times are approximate)

• Breakfast between 8.00am - 9.00am• Mid-morning drink 10.00am

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• Lunch 12 noon• Afternoon tea 2.00pm• Evening meal 5.00pm• Bedtime drink and biscuits 9.30pm

For patients undergoing certain procedures it may meanyou will have to be off the ward when meals are beingserved. However, we do have access to catering and youwill be provided with food once you are permitted to eat.

Between the hours of 12pm and 1pm, 5pm and 6pm weoperate ‘protected mealtimes’. This is to encouragepatients to eat a good balanced diet without beingdisturbed. Doctor’s ward rounds and routine proceduressuch as taking blood samples will be avoided wherepossible. You will of course receive any urgent treatmentat these times should you require it.

We offer a selection of meals and the house keeper willask each morning for choices for the day. The housekeeper or nursing staff will serve the meal on the ward soyou are able to pick the portion size you require.

We politely ask you, once you are well enough, that mealswill be eaten in the day room. The purpose of this is tominimise the effects on patients on the ward who can noteat as well as encouraging the rehabilitation of patientswho are in hospital in the longer term.

Angio Day Ward Meal Times and PatientNutritionHot meals are not provided on the Day Ward as your staywill be short. During your stay, and working around yourtest or procedure, we will offer a selection of snacks,sandwiches and hot drinks .

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Moving and HandlingThe Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust has a minimalpatient handling policy throughout the hospital.

To ensure their comfort we actively encourage patientswherever possible to assist in their own transfers andmovement. This also encourages self-reliance andindependence, which is beneficial to patient recoverywhilst reducing the risk of injury to both patient andmembers of the ward team. Hoists and other aids areavailable to help us in moving patients who are moredependent.

It is important to wear slippers or shoes at all times as thiswill reduce the risk of slipping. We may provide alternativefoot wear if you are unable to wear your normal shoes.

Please do not keep too much property as space is limitedand this can increase the risk of tripping.

Patient’s PropertyOn admission into hospital we do advise that you leavevaluables and cash at home. You will be asked to sign adisclaimer form on admission to show that you have beeninformed of this. We advise that you have a small amountof cash for you to purchase newspapers etc. Any othercash, cheque cards can be sent to Cashiers forsafekeeping.

To get your cash or other valuables, Cashiers is openMonday - Friday, 10.00am - 4.00pm.

We do ask that you bring a supply of your own clothinginto hospital, especially if you have a prolonged stay and

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are undergoing physiotherapy and occupational therapyrehabilitation. Comfortable, loose fitting clothes such asjogging bottoms, t-shirts, button through blouses,elasticated waist skirts and sweatshirts are ideal.

It is advisable that you have an adequate supply oftoiletries with you when you are admitted. The shop hasonly a limited supply for you to purchase.

VisitorsAngio Day Ward

Because space is very limited on the Day Ward, and torespect the privacy and dignity of all patients, we wouldask relatives and friends to drop off and collect rather thanwaiting.

Firth 2

Visiting times are 2pm - 3.30pm and 6pm - 8pm daily. This ensures privacy for patients at busy parts of the day.Only 2 visitors are allowed per bed and children under theage of 12 are not permitted to visit. This is a guidelineand we always permit visitors for patients who are verysick, or who may wish their relatives to assist in certainaspects of care. If you have any concerns please speak tothe nurse in charge.

To lessen the chance of bringing infections onto the ward,we ask that visitors use the handrub provided or washtheir hands in warm soapy water. This must be donebefore entering and when leaving the ward. A sink islocated at the ward entrance.

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Visitors must not sit on beds, as this can be a cause ofcross infection. Visitor’s chairs are available in the day roomand we ask that you return them on your way out.

The hospital day is a very busy one particularly during theweek. Please be aware that you may be required to go toother departments such as X-ray, Physiotherapy andsometimes theatre during visiting hours. Nursing care isongoing throughout each 24 hour period and care willcontinue during visiting times.

The Trust has introduced a visitors code which sets outsome simple and sensible guidelines for visitors. This isavailable in a separate leaflet.

Violence and AggressionViolence and aggression towards staff, patients or membersof the public will not be tolerated. The Trust operates azero tolerance policy and will seek the maximum penaltiesavailable in law for anyone behaving in this way.

Cultural and Religious NeedsThe hospital has a chapel situated on the Vickers corridorand a Multi-Faith room in the Chesterman Unit. Pleaseinform nursing staff if you wish to use these facilities.

We are also able to contact different representatives of thethree main Christian denominations and one part timeMuslim advisor should you feel the need for their supportduring your stay.

We can access interpreters via switchboard should yourequire their services.

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Privacy and DignityWe understand that coming into hospital is a stressful timefor most people and we try to provide care at all times in aprivate and dignified manner.

Our aim is that ward rounds are conducted in a quiet anddignified manner. We are aware at times conversations canbe overheard and if this is a particular cause for concern,we can arrange for doctors or members of nursing staff tospeak to you in our quiet room.

This can also be used if members of your family wish to beinformed of any changes to your care.

Segregation of sexes is an expected standard that hospitalsmust adhere to. However, certain areas such as thedayroom and bathroom will be visited by both sexes.Please help us by dressing appropriately to walk aroundthe ward and hospital in general.

Please be aware that if you are transfered to either thePost-operative Surgical Unit (POSU), High Dependency Unit(HDU) or General or Cardiac Intensive Care Units(GICU/CICU) you may be cared for in a mixedenvironment. You will appreciate that it is not alwayspossible for these areas to be single sex areas, but wemake every effort to respect your privacy and dignity at alltimes.

Please do not enter rooms other than your own.

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SmokingThe hospital operates a no smoking Policy, and we askthat you respect this during your stay.

Smoking can and does damage your health.

Should you be interested in smoking cessation advice,please speak to your nurse who will contact an advisor foryou.

NHS Smoking Helpline: Freephone 0800 169 0169

www.gosmokefree.co.uk

Medical Notes and ConfidentialityTo provide you with good medical care we need to keepnotes of your condition, treatment and progress. All staffwho have contact with your records are obliged tomaintain confidentiality at all times and keep all recordssecure.

The staff who will see your notes are those involved inyour care. However, sometimes other staff are allowed touse these notes for audit, teaching and research. Thesestaff are also bound by duties of confidentiality.

Any information concerning your illness is strictlyconfidential and will not be given without your permissionto anyone except your own family doctor. Friends andrelatives who enquire will only be given a generalindication of your progress.

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Discharge PlanningWe start planning discharge from the day of admissionand we will ask questions about your home circumstances.This is so we can make all the arrangements necessary ingood time and not delay your discharge.

On the day of discharge you will receive:

• A discharge advice leaflet

• A supply of medication. We will either return your ownmedication to you or supply you with enoughmedication for 14 days. If any extra medication hasbeen started whilst you were an inpatient, we will alsoprovide you with a supply of these. If you receive adrug you are still not sure about please ask a memberof nursing staff to explain them to you again. It isimportant that you do not continue to take othermedicines including prescriptions leftover at home.

• A letter referring you to the District Nurse if you requireany wounds or stitches attending to. If however, youare fit and well you may be able to attend the PracticeNurse at the surgery for any of the above. We will supply any dressings you require covering thefirst 7 days. This will enable the district nurse or your GPto order some for you.

• You will need to make transport arrangements for yourdischarge home. Patients who meet the NHS criteria foran ambulance will be eligible for an NHS ambulanceand we will arrange this for you.

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• You will be asked to vacate your bed at 10.30am on theday of discharge. If your transport home is not readywe will arrange for you to wait in the DischargeLounge.

• Usually an outpatient appointment will be given to you.If however this is not possible, one will be posted toyour home address.

• Some patients require a ‘home visit’ before actuallybeing discharged from hospital, such as patients whohave undergone surgery, which may affect the way youmanage at home. This will be organised by theOccupational Therapist and Physiotherapist, who willliaise with you and your next of kin.

• It may be necessary for some patients to be referred tothe Social Work Department for home care services ondischarge. Please speak to the nurse-in-charge if youfeel this applies to you. If there is likely to be a wait forSocial Services to be put in place or a residential/nursinghome vacancy arise, it is sometimes necessary toallocate you to a "step down" bed. This is an areawhere you can wait until the above are organised.

We aim to discharge you home as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

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Some frequently asked questions

Does it matter that I take my medications at differenttimes to the ward drug rounds?

During your hospital stay, the general routine will differgreatly from your routine at home. We try to perform drugrounds at regular intervals, approximately 8am, 2pm, 6pm,and 10pm. Once you return home you can return to yourusual routine.

Can I keep my own medications in my locker?

No. It is important that we are aware of all the medicationsthat you are taking and when you are taking them. Whenyou are admitted to the ward please give all yourmedications to the nurse admitting you. We will thenarrange safe storage of your medication.

What information will be given to my relatives overthe telephone?

Hospital policy and patient confidentiality does not allowmembers of staff to give information over the telephone,such as operations, tests and test results. Such informationcan be discussed with nursing or medical staff with theconsent of the patient when they visit.

On rare occasions such as medical emergencies, exceptionsmay be made. The nurse-in-charge and senior Doctor makethis decision.

We appreciate that family and friends may want to ring theward and make enquiries about their relative. We do askhowever that one person rings the ward and passes on anyprogress to everyone else. Numerous telephone calls impacton nurses’ time available to care for patients.

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Patientline is also now available on the ward to allowbedside phone calls to take place.

Are there any visiting restrictions?

Due to limited space on the ward we ask that no morethan two visitors per bed. This is for health and safetyreasons and as a courtesy to other sick patients. Please donot sit on the beds, as it is a cause of cross infection.

Please remember that between 5pm and 6pm we do notallow visiting as patients are eating their evening meal.

What if I need to visit outside visiting hours?

If it is very difficult for your family and friends to visit atvisiting time then please do not hesitate to speak to thenurse-in-charge and alternative arrangements can bemade.

Can children visit?

The Trust policy is that children age 12 and over may visit.Please ensure that any children are supervised at all times.Babies and very young children may be at risk of pickingup infections, so we advise you to discuss with the nurse-in-charge about any younger children.

What happens to my property if I need to spend timeon the High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit?

We ask you to keep only essential items with you. For example, a toiletry bag filled with washing equipment,such as, soap, flannel, toothpaste, toothbrush, denturepot, comb/hairbrush, pyjamas/nightie.

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We have very limited storage space, so it is difficult tokeep many items in our locked cupboard. Please leavevaluables at home where possible, or with a relative forsafekeeping. If however this is not an option, valuableitems will be sent to Cashiers and would be returned toyou during office hours Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.

Any reasonable amounts of cash would be returned to youat your request. Small amounts to purchase newspapers,etc. is advisable and the rest returned to you just beforedischarge.

I usually monitor my own blood sugars at home.What happens to my monitoring whilst I am inhospital, or if I become unwell?

It is important for you to monitor your blood sugars as youwould at home. If you are unwell or have undergonesurgery, your blood sugars may become unstable.Therefore the nurse looking after you will closely monitoryour blood sugars until you are well enough to continuemonitoring your own again.

If you keep a record book, information we gather duringyour stay can be made available for you to copy when yougo home.

What facilities are available on the ward?

• A trolley selling newspapers, magazines, sweets, softdrinks, and some toiletries visits the ward mostmornings.

• WRVS visit the ward at different times during the weekwith a trolley selling confectionery, soft drinks, andsome toiletries.

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• There is a large day room on the ward for patients touse at meal times to encourage social interaction.

• ‘Patientline’ is also available on the ward. This serviceis at each bed space. It consists of a television andtelephone for individual use. Please use the head setsprovided to respect the rest of patients around you.

Cards can be purchased from different machines aroundthe hospital. The nearest machine to Firth 2 is outsideFirth 4 on C level.

Alternatively, you can obtain a card from the PatientlineRepresentative by pressing the ‘operator’ button on yourhandset. They will bring the card to you on the ward.

Please note that ‘Patientline’ is not theresponsibility of staff on the ward. Patientline canbe contacted by pressing the ‘operator’ button on yourhandset at the side of your bed.

Angio Day WardAngio DDay WWard does not have Patientline, but thereare wall mounted television sets which you will be ableto watch. Please bring in with you: reading matter, softdrinks or sweets.

Where can my relatives get some refreshments?

League of Friends coffee shop situated at the mainHuntsman entrance.

Opening times: Most days (depending on staff availability) 9.30am –3pm. 5pm –7pm.Weekends: 11am –5pm.

Hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks are availableto purchase.

Huntsman Dining Room

A selection of hot and cold food is available for yourself orfamily to purchase should you require it. Tea, coffee andcold beverages are also available.

Opening times: 7.00am to 7.45pm

Out of hours, vending machines are available in the diningroom where you can purchase meals, soup, savouries andsnacks.

On discharge, will the hospital provide me withtransport?

Not necessarily. Hospital transport will only be provided ifyou, the patient, meets certain criteria. We ask that,wherever possible, your family or friends collect you. If they can only come and collect you in the evening, forexample, after they have finished work, then we will askyou to vacate your bed and wait in the day room or wemay arrange your transfer to the discharge lounge.

Please also ask family and friends to start taking yourbelongings home on the run up to you leaving hospital. If you do meet the criteria for hospital transport, extrabaggage may prevent another patient from having a seatwhen they need one.

What should I do if I am not happy with my care?

We aim to provide a good standard of care at all times.However, if you are unhappy with the care you or yourrelative has received then you do have the right to raisethese concerns. Please do not hesitate to speak to one of

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the Ward Sisters or Matron to discuss this as we aim toresolve any problems in an informal way as soon as wecan.

Alternatively, you may wish to address your concerns inwriting to the Chief Executive, who will aim to provide youwith a written response within 20 working days.

We hope your stay will be acomfortable one

Thank you

PD3306-PIL1637 v4Issue date: June 2011. Review date: June 2013

© Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2011. Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the “Re-use of Public SectorInformation Regulations 2005” SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the InformationGovernance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Email infogov@sth.nhs.uk

This information can be made available on request in alternativeformats including Braille, large print, audio, electronically and otherlanguages. For further details email: alternativeformats@sth.nhs.uk

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