Having Your Operation
We are aware that for some services our current waiting times are longer than we would like.
If you are concerned about the time you have waited, or feel that your condition has deteriorated, please contact the service that you have been referred to or see your GP for advice.
On arrival
Please ensure you go to the correct hospital as indicated on your admission letter. Some Consultants work at different hospitals throughout the Trust and this may not be the hospital from which the appointment letter was sent, or where you were last seen.
If you are D/deaf and you would like to check if an interpreter has been booked for your appointment, or someone you care for, you can “Check a Booking” at: www.word360.co.uk/check-a-booking
What to bring with you
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Your admission letter and appointment card
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All medicines and tablets you are taking, whether prescribed by your doctor or otherwise
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Contact details of your next of kin or any other person you appoint to represent you
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Your consent form if you have been given one
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Toiletries e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, towels and flannel
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Hand wipes to use before and after meals
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Nightdress or pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers.
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Casual day clothes - we support the national #EndPJparalysis campaign to get patients up, get them dressed and get them moving. Read our Dressed Is Best leaflet.
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A small amount of money for telephone calls, newspapers etc. (A 'Hospedia' card will cost £5, £10 or £15)
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Your District Nurse/Maternity (notes if relevant)
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Your single assessment process documentation (if relevant)
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If possible, mark your personal property with your name
How long will I be in hospital?
If your admission is pre-booked, for example you are coming in for planned surgery, the nurse in the pre-admission clinic will advise you on how long you are likely to stay.
Medicines and tablets
Please bring with you all of the medicines and tablets you are taking, including any homeopathic, herbal or over the counter remedies. This helps us get the most accurate information about the medicines you are taking, ensures that you get continuity of care, improves medicines safety and prevents unnecessary wastage of medicines.
Upon arrival these medicines must be handed to the nurse on your ward so that they can be safely stored in your bedside locker for safe keeping. The nurse and/or ward pharmacist and your doctor will decide if they should form part of your hospital treatment.
Whilst in hospital you must only take those medicines that have been prescribed by your hospital doctor. When you are discharged you may be prescribed certain medicines to take home. Any medicines of your own that you will need to take will be returned to you, as well as any other appropriate medicines that have been prescribed for you during your hospital stay. Your discharge prescription will be completed by the ward-based pharmacy team or by the dispensary depending on which hospital you have been admitted to. If you have any other medicines left at home that you are unsure about, you should check with your GP whether you should continue to take them.
Personal property
You are advised to bring only essential items into hospital as these are not insured under any hospital policy and will remain your own responsibility if they are lost.
Arrangements can be made for small items to be kept in safe custody and these should immediately be handed to the ward sister/nursing staff as you arrive. A receipt must be obtained.
Whilst we do everything possible to prevent the loss of patient property, although rare - this sometimes happens -Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, personal property of any kind, in whatever way the loss or damage may occur, unless deposited for safe custody and an acceptable hospital receipt is produced.
Please make sure that dentures, spectacles and hearing aids not in use are kept in appropriate containers. Wrapping these items in tissue paper is often mistaken for rubbish and removed from your bedside by our domestic staff.
Mobile telephones, portable televisions and personal stereo systems without headphones must not be used in the hospital. Alcohol and recreational drugs are strictly not allowed.
The use of any personal electrical equipment is not allowed as an electrical fault may cause further electrical problems within the hospital.
Meals
We aim to provide appetizing and nourishing meals and you will generally have a choice from a menu for all your meals. If you have a food allergy or require a special diet as part of your treatment, you may be referred to a dietician who will discuss this with you and your carers. Certain foods and drinks can interfere with recommended diets and treatments so please ask ward staff before bringing in food. We are unable to re-heat food that has been brought in.
If you require a gluten free diet please inform nursing staff on the ward so that the catering department can be notified.
We try to protect meal times to ensure you are undisturbed and given time to eat your meals. This includes asking friends and relatives not to visit at meal times, as although you may not mind, other patients may object.
Meal times and menus may vary and details of local ward arrangements will be given to you on the ward.
If you need any help with eating meals, please ask the nursing staff who will be pleased to help you.
Visitors
Visiting times vary from ward to ward as patients and staff in different specialties have different requirements and duties. There are special arrangements for maternity patients and their partners but extended families are asked to observe the official visiting times. Ward staff will always provide you with visiting times for your ward, which are also available on our ward pages.
Arrangements can always be made for visitors travelling long distances or where it is difficult to see patients within the above times - please speak to your nurse about this.
The number of visitors allowed around a patient's bed at a time is usually no more than 2 people. This is to ensure patients do not become unduly tired and for health and safety reasons. It is sensible to avoid bringing young children into hospitals. Please discuss this with the ward staff. We do ask that visiting children are controlled to prevent disturbing other patients.
Telephones and mobile phones
Public payphones are available for outgoing calls and these are located near the main reception and at other points throughout the hospital. These telephones cannot receive incoming calls nor can they take phone cards. We do supply a limited number of public payphones to use from wheelchairs. Please ask the ward staff where the nearest one is situated. For the hard of hearing we have a loop system available in each of the main reception areas.
A personal phone for each patient is included in the Hospedia entertainment system
All patients can make free calls to 01, 02, 03 landline numbers from the bedside unit and watch Free TV on channels 1-5, typically from 8am to 12noon. Calls to the hospedia telephone number may be cheaper at off peak times calls to mobiles and other networks may be higher as these providers can charge additional fees for the use of their network - If you need assistance or wish to make a gift of TV & Phone credit for a patient then please speak to the Hospedia Customer Care Team on 0845 414 1234 calls to this number from a BT landline will cost at least 50p per minute.
Mobile telephones are only permitted in the main corridors of the hospital, as the use of these may interfere with medical equipment. If mobile phones are brought into hospital, please ensure that they are switched OFF when entering a ward or clinical area.
Data Security on your mobile
Continuing care in the community
Once your medical condition is stable, plans will be made for you to return home as soon as possible, with support from community teams when required.
If you require further care and assessment before you return home you will be transferred to a more appropriate community facility.
More information
Download the continuing care in the community leaflet
To find out more about each of our hospitals, please visit: