Inpatient Unit

You may be admitted to Countess Mountbatten House for a variety of reasons:

• Control of pain and other problems
• Emotional support for you or your family
• To give your carers a break
• 
  
  It may surprise you to know that, if possible, we help you to regain some of your independence so that you can lead as full a life as you can, despite being ill.

Our aim is to get you comfortable and independent enough for home. We aim to do so within 10 days to two weeks of your admission, although of course, this will vary according to your needs and what arrangements need to be in place. If you are ready to go home sooner than that, that would be fine. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide you with a long-term stay here.

Our purpose built inpatient facility was opened in February 2000 and has twenty-five beds, in five four bedded bays and five single rooms.

What should I bring?

Bring all the things you needed in your previous hospital, including:

• Day clothes if appropriate
• Night-dress/pyjamas
• Dressing gown
• Toiletries
• Towels
• Slippers
• Spectacles
• 
  All personal items should be clearly marked with your name.

Medicines

If you have been taking any pills or medicine before you came in it's important that you bring them with you and give them to the nursing staff. If you have a special card or form giving details of any current treatment, please bring this too.

Valuables

Do not bring valuables or large sums of money with you. If this is unavoidable, please hand them to the nurse in charge when you arrive. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage to anything you bring with you, unless it has been handed over for safekeeping and you have a receipt.

 

How will I get to Countess Mountbatten House?

The doctor or nurse arranging your admission will discuss transport arrangements with you. Your relative may bring you here or an ambulance may be arranged. Your relative may be able to travel in the ambulance with you but he/she will need to arrange transport to get home. If this is not possible, we may be able to arrange for one of our volunteers to provide transport.

What should I do on arrival?

Please report to reception, where you will be shown to your bed.

Who will be looking after me?

You will be under the care of a consultant while you are at Countess Mountbatten House. A team of named nurses and doctors will look after you on the ward. Depending on your needs, the social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, chaplain and volunteers may also be involved in your care.

Behind the scenes are the receptionists, secretaries and housekeeping staff who also contribute to your care in one way or another.

Discussing your illness

Information about your care is strictly confidential to you and the staff concerned. The doctors and nursing staff are available to discuss all aspects of your care with you, and with your permission, with your relatives. You may find it helpful to nominate one member of your family to be the main link person.

Meal times

Meals are served in the wards around the following times:

Breakfast 8 am Lunch 12 noon Supper 6 pm

Drinks are served at other times during the day and before you settle at night. Aperitifs are served prior to lunch and supper. You will have a choice of menu for all your main meals. We can provide special diets including kosher and vegetarian meals on request. Relatives are welcome to bring in their own food and share meal times with you. Moorgreen Hospital canteen facilities may be used by relatives during your stay - please ask the nursing staff about this.

Newspapers

These may be ordered from a volunteer on a daily basis.

Personal laundry

The hospital deals with an enormous amount of laundry and is unable to launder items belonging to patients, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Television and radio

There is a radio service to all beds. A television, which you can listen to using headphones, is available on request. If you wish to bring your own television, radio or cassette player, you will need to check with the nurse in charge first. You will also need to wait until an electrician has checked your television prior to use. Talking books, puzzles and ordinary books are available in the lounge and you are welcome to bring your favourite videos and tapes in.

Quiet room

There is a quiet room for use by patients and relatives. If you wish to make use of this room please ask a member of staff.

Visitors

Your family and friends are welcome to visit you between 10am and 8pm every day, except Tuesdays. We encourage a no visitors day on Tuesdays to allow patients and their families to have a rest day. However, if you need your family to visit on a Tuesday, feel free to discuss this with your nurse.

Children of any age are welcome and there are some toys available in the day area, just inside CMH. Arrangements for pets to visit may be discussed with the nursing staff. There is a room available for relatives to stay overnight if necessary.

Visitors are asked not to use mobile phones or smoke in the unit. There is a smoking room available for patients.