Acute admission ward information and patient safety

What will happen when I arrive on the acute admission wards?

You will be greeted by a member of the nursing team and/or a doctor who will gather some information from you
You will be shown around the ward and introduced to other patients and staff. You will be shown to your designated bed
You will be provided with an ID wristband, for identification and administration of medication purposes.
Allocated a named nurse who will develop an individualised care and support plan with you and your family to promote your recovery. They will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating your care whilst you are in hospital.
Routine physical health checks will be completed including blood tests, heart health checks, a urine screen, weight/height, and any other checks required.

What will happen during my admission?

We want to provide you with the quality of service we would expect for our families and ourselves.

In order to ensure effective and safe, care our inpatient wards work to the Purposeful Inpatient Admission model (PiPA).
Discharge planning will commence at the point of admission and you will be advised of your estimated date of discharge (EDD) following a formulation meeting. This will be reviewed daily.
You will have dedicated time with your allocated / named nurse on a daily basis to discuss and explore your recovery plan and any concerns you may have.
Your consultant will meet with you at least once weekly to discuss your treatment plan and any queries you may have.
At the start of your treatment, you will initially have to stay on the ward however as your recovery progresses your care team will help you plan for time off the ward.
Our aim would be that you would be admitted to a ward/hospital that is within and supported by community services within your local area.
Throughout your stay we do try to keep your ward and bed the same, however there may be occasions where it is deemed necessary to ask you to move to a different bed/ward/location. We will ensure that this is done with sensitivity, compassion and dignity and accommodate you in your local area ward as soon as possible.

How can I be sure that I will be safe?

We know that being in an unfamiliar place can be frightening so we’re committed to ensuring a safe environment for both the people who use this service and our staff. Please tell our staff if you feel worried about your safety while you are here.

There are a number of security measures in place, including controlled access to the ward with intercom system.
Staff will complete regular wellbeing checks on you throughout your stay. Please use these to ask any questions or raise any concerns you may have.

What I can and can’t bring with me?

Bringing personal possessions with you will make your stay with us more comfortable. On arrival to the ward, belongings brought with you to the hospital will be checked and recorded in the personal property record. You may wish to bring items such as

Day and night clothes including underwear
outdoor shoes and slippers
toiletries
comb and hairbrush
coat
Glasses/hearing aids/dentures – If necessary
Personal items which may help your recovery e.g. books/photographs

We would encourage you not to bring any valuable items onto the ward.

You can use your mobile devices while in hospital. You are not permitted to record other patients or staff within the ward environment. Charging of phones will be facilitated at the Nurses Station.

During your admission you must refrain from taking non-prescribed medications. The possession of and consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs may result in early discharge and involvement of the police service Northern Ireland (PSNI). Periodical screening, via urine sample, for the use of illicit drugs may be undertaken.

All personal items remain your responsibility at all times and you will be given a bedside locker for your belongings. The Trust will not accept responsibility for loss or damage of your property.

When are the meal times?

We are committed to ensuring that all people admitted to our hospitals within the Trust have the opportunity to enjoy mealtimes and good quality food. The hospital operates a system of protected meal times to enable you to enjoy your meal in a quiet environment with limited interuptions. A choice of meals and snacks are provided by the hospital. Please make staff aware of any dietary requirements.

Breakfast begins at 07:45am
Lunch begins at 11:45am
Dinner begins at 4:45pm

Refreshments are also available outside of these hours.

There are also onsite restaurants and vending machine facilities available for you and your visitors.

When can I have visitors?

To help with your recovery it is important to work closely with other people who support you.

Visiting times are set to ensure that you are able to participate in therapies and activities.

Visiting is available in 30 mins slots by appointment through the ward from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, and from 6:00pm and 8:00pm

There may be some restrictions regarding visiting, for example, children visiting the ward – please speak to a member of staff for further details.

You will be encouraged to wear your usual clothing however sports team shirts and/or clothing with emblems or slogans which may cause offence, are not permitted. There is a number of items which are not permitted for safety reasons, for example, sharp objects, razors, lighters. Any items which are deemed to be unsafe will be removed.

Prohibited items (must not be brought into the ward)

Prohibited items must not be brought into the ward. Some examples of prohibited items include:

Illicit drugs and alcohol
Over the counter medicines +vitamins
All sharp objects/knives nail clippers, scissors, tweezers, sharpeners
Glass photo frames
Mirrors (available in ward)
Glass Bottles/cutlery/cans
Batteries
Tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, nails.
Plastic bags
Exfoliator with blades
Weapons, Fire Arms

Restricted items

Electrical equipment including Mobile Phone, Laptops, Tablets, DVD, CD, Phone Chargers, Headphones, All electronic Leads
Laundry/cleaning materials
Cigarettes/ E-Cigarette (Vapes)
Knitting kits, Sewing kits, Craft Needles, scissors for sowing
Mugs, ceramics, cutlery
Musical instruments
Hair dressing equipment, for example, hairdryers, straighteners
Perfume, Roll-on deodorants, nail polish remover
Confectionery
High caffeine/energy drinks
Plastic drink bottles
Clothing such as robe belts, scarves, laces, steel-toed footwear
Blankets, pillows, soft toys and cushions

Information sharing and consent

You will be involved in all decisions relating to the care you receive while in hospital, and where possible, your consent to care and treatment will be sought.

There may be some circumstances when the multi-disciplinary team are required to share information. These are:

If there is an immediate risk to you or another person.
If you have expressed an intent to carry out or have carried out an illegal act.
If there is reason to believe that a child or young person is at risk of harm.

Creating a safe environment

All our staff and patients have the right to provide and receive care in a safe environment. Our actions matter. We want to work with you to create a safe, kind and compassionate environment for our patients and staff. Our staff are here to help you.

Advocacy Service

An Advocacy Service is a free, confidential service available to you during your admission. They can offer you support and guidance and can be involved in discussions about your care.

The Advocacy service will enable your voice to be heard where you don’t feel able to speak for yourself. For more information please speak to a member of staff.

Smoking policy

The Northern Trust is a ‘Smoke Free’ Trust, in line with Government regulations. This includes Vape style cigarettes. Please feel free to discuss the range of smoking cessation options with your nurse or a member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Illicit substances

What activities are available?

We believe that good mental health is helped by having a structure and purpose to your day.

Recreational and occupational therapies are organised by the occupational therapist, alongside therapeutic activities provided by the nursing team on the ward. Information for these sessions will be displayed on the ward.
As part of your recovery plan, you will receive a personalised activity plan of therapeutic activities.
There are regular staff and service user meetings to share information about activities on the ward, for you to raise any concerns or suggestions to improve the ward environment and activities which will be captured via our “you said we did” process and noted on the “You said We did” notice board weekly. Our inpatient services are participating in an initiative to reduce violence and aggression. You will be offered opportunities to contribute towards this initiative.
You are encouraged to retire to bed by midnight and to support this, televisions and electronic devices within the ward are switched off at 11:00pm. This is to maximise the effectiveness of your treatment and to allow you to get up in the morning to fully participate in your treatment programme.
If you wish to speak to your chaplain, a nurse can arrange this for you. You can also avail of our Chaplaincy Service, our chaplains seek to bring religious, spiritual and pastoral care to all people, irrespective of faith or background. Please speak to a member of staff about this or other local services which you may be able to attend.