Once you arrive on the ward you will be welcomed by a member of the nursing team who will take your details and show you around the ward.
You will also find a bedside folder in your cabinet when you arrive. This contains useful information for your stay.
All wards have an individual routine and this will be explained to you when you arrive. You may find you are woken earlier than you are used to at home. This is because some patients need to receive medication, or have their blood pressure or temperature taken, early in the morning.
When it comes to settling down at night, it is likely to be earlier than you are used to at home - many patients feel particularly tired at the end of the day and want to settle early. The main lights will be switched off, but there is a reading lamp next to your bed.
Have a look at our ward directory
Catering staff serving a meal to a patient
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Breakfast: 7.30 - 8.30am
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Lunch: 12noon - 1pm
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Dinner: 5 - 6pm
These times are approximate and may vary slightly from ward to ward. If you miss a meal because you are having treatment or tests, you can order a snack box from the catering department. Please speak to your nurse if you wish to do this.
Read more about protected mealtimes and why they are important
You will be able to choose your lunch and dinner through our menu card system (view a sample menu), and indicate whether you would like a small, standard or large portion.
The catering host will offer you a choice of hot and cold beverages from the drinks trolley six times a day. If you would like a beverage out of hours, please ask the nursing staff.
Please do not bring perishable food and drink, or food and drink that requires refrigeration or heating with you.
Please let your nurse know as soon as possible if you have any special dietary requirements, for instance for health or religious reasons. We can provide a range of special diets and, if you would like, the catering manager will visit you to discuss your requirements.
Once you arrive on the ward, you will be welcomed by a member of the nursing team who will show you around the ward.
A team of people will be involved in your care, and will be clearly identifiable by their uniforms and identification badges. However, there are many different members of staff at the hospital and if you are unsure at any time about who you are talking to, please do ask.
In most cases, a consultant (a senior doctor) has overall responsibility for your medical care while you are in hospital. If you have any questions about your condition or treatment, please ask your consultant or nurse.
Who is who on the ward
Yes. Everyone in the NHS has a legal duty to keep any information about you confidential. Your GP will be told of your progress, although you can ask us not to do this.
We also have a legal duty to hold certain information about you. We use this information to care for you, and to monitor the quality of our services.
Apart from these purposes, no information about you will be used in a way that can identify you, unless we ask for your permission. We might use some of the information about you for research and education, but only after all any details which would make it possible to identify you have been removed. Please let us know if you are unhappy about this.
During your time at the hospital, you may be asked to take part in a research study. If you are, the researcher will explain the study in detail to you and what it would involve from you.
You are under no obligation to take part in any research, and you have every right to refuse. Doing so does not affect your treatment in any way.
However, if you do decide to help us with research, you will be asked to sign a consent form which confirms you have agreed to take part in the study.
Read more about research at our hospitals
The latest Hospedia bedside unit lets you watch TV and films, make and receive phone calls, send and receive email or browse the internet from your bed.
You can listen to local, national and the hospitals’ own radio stations (Epsom Hospital Radio and Radio St Helier) for free using the Trust’s bedside entertainment system.
The system, provided by Hospedia, also allows patients to watch television or films, make and receive telephone calls, send and receive emails or browse the internet. Some of these services are chargeble - more information about services and prices can be found here.
Each ward also has a direct line telephone number, which the nurse will give you when you arrive so that your can pass it on to friends and relatives. Please bear in mind that our staff have to keep information about you confidential.
Because of this, if your friends or family call the ward, staff will only be able to give out limited information about your health.
In addition to the Hospedia bedside terminals, some wards also have day rooms and it’s possible to watch television there if you wish.
Our hospitals are teaching hospitals - this means some doctors teach medical students during their clinics as well as on the wards. If you do not want other doctors present during your examination please let us know.
You will usually be placed in a ward specialising in the care and treatment of the particular condition or illness that you have. Most of our wards have male and female patients, but we will always try to make sure you are cared for within a designated male or female area of the ward. There will be single sex toilets and washing facilities nearby.
In exceptional circumstances, this may not be possible. If this is the case, the situation will be explained to you when your bed is confirmed. Please tell us if you find this unacceptable, and we will try to arrange a different bed for you as soon as possible.
Read more about privacy and dignity in our hospitals.
A sign reminding patients, visitors and staff that the Trust operates a no smoking policy
Smoking is not permitted in any hospital building or in any of the surrounding areas including the car parks. We ask all patients and visitors to go off site to smoke.
Infection control is our top priority. We have made impressive progress in cutting infection rates and we can build on our success with your help.
Good hand hygiene in the hospital is very important - it prevents the spread of infection by reducing the build up of bacteria, which occurs naturally on hands.
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Please wash your hands frequently - especially before eating and after going to the toilet.
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Rub your hands all over with the alcohol gel when moving from one area to another - it is available at the entrance to all wards and in clinical areas.
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Wear slippers when walking around the wards. This keeps your feet clean so that bacteria are not transferred from your feet to the bed.
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Please do not sit on other patients' beds - this provides an ideal opportunity for bacteria to spread.
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Please ask visitors not to come if they are feeling unwell themselves. When they do visit you, please ask them not to sit on your bed.
Read more about infection control and prevention, including our statistics
Chaplains are available 24 hours a day to everyone, regardless of faith, and also to those with no religious belief who would just like some support during their stay.
We also have access to leaders of many other faiths: just let us know who you would like to speak to and we will arrange this for you.
Read more about chaplaincy and pastoral care
Most wards don’t have laundry facilities for patients, so please ask your relatives or friends to take your washing home with them if possible.
Post is delivered to and collected from the wards every day.
If you have any comments or suggestions, or you are concerned about any element of your treatment or our service, please speak to the ward sister, ward matron or head of nursing for that area (the staff on the ward will be able to give you contact details).
Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
