Adult Inpatient PICU

Your clinical team may have the following members:

Consultant
A consultant is a doctor who is responsible for your care and treatment during your stay in hospital.
Your consultant usually has a weekly ward round when you, your family / carers can ask questions. Please ask a member of staff about your ward round times.
If you wish, you can ask for a family member or advocate to be present.
If you wish to see a doctor on a day that is not your ward round day, please make a member of staff aware and we'll try to accommodate this.

Junior Doctors
These are professionals who support the consultant, completing assessments and help to support other professionals in working towards your recovery and discharge.

Primary/named nurse
Your primary or named nurse is a qualified nurse who will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of your care are being met. This includes care planning, assessments as well as spending time with you to help work towards recovery and discharge.

Associate nurse
This is a member of staff on the ward who will help support your named nurse to complete care plans and assessments as well as spend time with you on the ward to complete 1 to 1's, activities and promote recovery and discharge.

Occupational Therapists (OT's) and Physiotherapist
OT's and physiotherapists are allied health professionals who focus on practical ways of helping you manage the impact of your health conditions to live as independently as possible. They work on the wards and in the therapy department with the sports instructors, therapy assistants, OT / Physio apprentices and volunteers.

Clinical Psychologists
Psychologists are available for individuals who need talking therapy and support in achieving recovery. Please discuss with ward staff if you would like to be referred to psychology.

Things to bring with you: 

• Enough clothing
• Medication you are currently prescribed 
• Nightwear
• Toiletries 
• Reading material / crosswords / puzzles
• Your bank card or money for payphones, vending machines, the café etc. 

Things to leave at home:

• Weapons / knives or blades
• Glass
• Alcohol / illicit substances 
• Matches
• Valuables
• Bedding 

Valuables and mobile phones

Please do not bring valuables with you. If you do have any valuables with you, please hand them to a member of staff, or preferably give them to a friend or relative to look after. We cannot take responsibility for items not handed in.

Mobile phones are allowed on the wards unless there are concerns about patient safety.

Your room

Each patient will have their own room with the majority of rooms having an en-suite shower (shower temperatures are set for patient safety). You will be able to keep your personal belongings in your room. There are keys to each bedroom which will be given on admission although there may be times when a key is not given. Staff will be happy to discuss this with you. Room checks may be carried out.

All bed linen will be changed on a Saturday and all mattresses will be flipped and cleaned. If you need any extra blankets, please ask staff for these.

During your stay within the mental health inpatient unit should you require urgent assistance and are unable to leave your room to alert staff, there is a call system in place. The call button is located in your bedroom and is fixed to the wall by your bed. By pressing the call button, our staff will be alerted that you need assistance. Once you press the call button, please wait for a staff member to attend to you.

Ward environment

There are many communal areas on the wards that include lounges, quiet rooms, dining rooms, activity rooms and the outside courtyards. There is also a laundry room with access to a washing machine and tumble dryer.

There is no CCTV in patient bedrooms or private meeting rooms.

Please respect your bedroom and the ward area at all times. Damage to property must always be reported as soon as possible.

There is a café and a small shop that sells basic items on the hospital site.

Whilst you are on the ward, staff will carry out general ward observations. You will be checked on by a member of staff each hour to make sure you are safe and well. At night, you will still be checked but this will be done through the hatch in your door.
Each ward has mutual expectations that have been created between patients and staff and these are displayed on the ward notice boards.

If there are any incidents on the ward, please go to your room or follow direction from lead members of staff. If you have any concerns for your personal safety please speak to a member of staff.

Smoking policy 

You are able to smoke in the ward courtyard. There are designated times for this to keep the area smoke free for others.

You will not be allowed to keep a lighter or matches on the ward, and will need to hand these in on admission to the nursing station. This is to ensure that everyone remains safe.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available to all service users to help manage their cravings. Alternatively, patients own e-cigarettes and vapes can be brought in.

Please ask staff if you would like more information.

Meet the Matron

The Ward Matrons will call round to see you within 48 hours of your admission to discuss any concerns or suggestions you may have. Information relayed to your relative or carer will be dependent
on your consent.

Every morning a meeting is held on the ward, all service users will be asked to attend. The meeting is attended by the nursing team and the ward's occupational therapists.

The purpose of this meeting is to:

• Promote structure
• Encourage you to get involved in your care or treatment
• Encourage engagement in a meaningful and therapeutic activity
• Allow planning for the day
• Enable staff to use resources efficiently - i.e organising the shift plan and allocation of staff
• Request an approximate time to take any of your leave
• Ask any questions
• Order items for the shop run

Please ask the nursing staff for more details.

When are mealtimes?

Don't worry if you miss one of these as there are other times in the day when food and drink are available. The nursing staff will tell you about this.
If you have any specific dietary requirements / preferences e.g., diabetic, halal, gluten free, vegetarian etc. please inform a member of staff so meals can be ordered from the kitchen.

• Breakfast from 8am to 9am
• Lunch from 12pm - 1pm
• Dinner from 5pm-6pm

Café vie 

The café stocks a selection of sandwiches, hot foods, snacks and drinks. The café is open 9am to 3pm on weekdays. It is not open at weekends. 

Cash and card are accepted.

There are also local shops should you need to buy basic personal items.

How you can spend your day

All wards enable a variety of activities for you to choose and enjoy in your free time at your leisure.

These include arts and crafts, pampering, going for a walk in the grounds, reading books from the library, board games, socialising with other patients and much more. Our sports instructors can induct you to use the on-site gym and offer variety of physical activities as part of the therapy programme.

As part of your treatment and recovery plan you will be encouraged to take part in group or individual activity sessions provided by the occupational therapy and physiotherapy team or psychologist. These will vary depending on your needs and will form an important part of your day and recovery.

Accessing the Therapy Programme Service

Occupational therapists (OTs) will work with you to understand how your illness and difficulties affect each of the activities and roles that are important for you to live your daily life. Together you can set goals so that these can be worked on in preparation for your discharge and beyond.

OTs use activity as the main form of treatment and so in hospital a therapy programme is devised to help you regain and improve skills you may find challenging. The programme is also important in providing routine and structure to your day in the temporary absence of the usual routines, roles, and day to day activities you would do at home.

OTs will also work with you to consider any physical health issues you may have and suggest equipment to help you with personal care, walking, eating, dressing and other daily tasks. Physiotherapists are also part of the therapy team. You may be referred to physiotherapy if you have a physical condition that impacts your ability to carry out the day-to-day tasks you need and want to do. Physiotherapists mainly work with you on an individual basis to create a plan of specific exercises, pain management, mobility aids and equipment. They may also offer group sessions that focus on physical health and wellbeing through targeted exercises as part of the therapy programme.

As being physically active can help with your mental health and overall wellbeing, our sports instructors provide a variety of physical activities and opportunities to use the on-site gym as part of the therapy programme.
The therapy programme changes depending on need and the sessions may be ward based, in the central therapy department or local community.

Going on leave

All time off the ward (leave) will be discussed with you, your parents / carers and the team. A joint decision will be made as to how often / long you spend off the ward and will become part of your care plan.

Time off the ward will include:

• Community activities, with and without staff
• Appointments
• Home leave.

We will always make sure you have your allocated bed when we can on your return, however on occasion we may use the room when you are at home or on trial leave. We would ask you take all your valuables with you when you go on leave. If you intend to leave something behind, please tell a member of staff before you go.

Please could you or a relative / carer contact the ward if you decide to return from leave early. This is so we can ensure there is a bed available for you on your return. There is a possibility when you return from leave, you may be allocated a bed on a different ward. In most cases this would only be a short-term temporary measure.

If you are in any doubt or have any concerns, please discuss these with nursing staff.

Visiting the ward

We encourage our patients to have visitors and hope that visits from carers / family will become part of your recovery process.

Should you wish to have visitors, they are welcome to come onto the ward. Visits can take place in the communal area or in one of the side rooms.

Both family and carers are important in your care, and we will listen and take their views into account. If you do not wish for this to happen, please inform a member of staff.

Young people under 18 years of age are not allowed onto the ward but there is a family room within the hospital where you can be visited by children.

We have protected times for meals (12pm and 5pm) for 30 minutes of which we ask these are avoided as a time to visit. Apart from the protected mealtimes we do not have visiting times and we are happy for visitors to come to the ward within reasonable times of the day.

Community activities (with and without staff)

Appointments

Home leave

Your physical health

As part of your stay in the hospital you will be seen by a doctor. They will carry out a physical examination to check your physical health. After admission, you will have an ECG (electrocardiogram) so that we can see how your heart is functioning and a blood test to check organ function.

Your physical health is very important to us. We carry out daily checks which means you will need to visit the wards clinic room. The nursing staff will measure your oxygen saturation, your temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and your weight and height if it has not already been done. 

We do understand that some of the medication that is prescribed for you to take can increase your appetite and this may affect your weight. If you have any concerns about this, then please speak to a member of staff who can advise how to manage this.

The physical health nurses and sports technician will work with you to achieve any specific health goals.

Medication

Please bring all the medicines you're currently taking with you when you come to the hospital. This helps our staff check them and make sure they're safe and right for you during your stay.

During your stay, your needs regarding treatments including medicines will be regularly reviewed and discussed with you and your carer. 

Any newly recommended medication during your stay will be given to you and we will also make sure you do not run out of your previous medicines.

While you are on the ward, a member of staff will let you know when to take your medicines.  

We will give you information that will help you safely use your medication. The Trust has a dedicated website for choice and medication which you can access here.

You may also request help to access this link or request pharmacy staff to provide you with specific information on any detail of your medicines.

When you leave hospital, we will make sure that you have enough medicines recommended by your doctor and that you have the right information for safe use. 

What can you do to prevent the spread of infection?

• Wash your hands before preparing or eating meals and after using the toilet
• Ask your visitors to wash their hands before and after seeing you
• Ask any member of staff if they have cleaned their hands before they have any direct contact or care with you
• Expect staff to wear gloves and aprons when carrying out some tasks, such as, dressing a wound, cleaning up spills of bodily fluids or handling dirty linen
• Keep your toiletries for your personal use only
• Try to keep clutter within your bed area to a minimum
• Expect your bed linen to be changed as often as necessary and if you move rooms
• Cover any exposed cuts or grazes with a waterproof dressing and ask staff to change any dressings if they become dirty or blood-stained
• Tell a member of staff immediately if you have episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting

Being in hospital could affect your benefits. 

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 

You must let the benefits agency know that you have been admitted to hospital. Your benefit will continue to be paid for a further 28 days and will then stop. You must also let the benefits agency know when you leave hospital (your discharge) so the benefit payment can start again.

If you do not do this, it may result in a fine. 

Disability Living Allowance telephone number: 0845 712 3456 
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Housing Benefit

This will be paid for up to one year. 

Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

This won't change.

Community Law Service 

Community Law Service is an independent advice provider in Northamptonshire. They can offer free advice on welfare benefits, housing and debt. An advice worker visits the wards on Monday afternoons. If you would like to speak to them, please let a member of the nursing team know. The contact details are below:

• Northampton - 01604 621 038
• Rushden - 01933 313 020
• Wellingborough - 01933 278 248

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

PALS is a helpful and friendly service which can provide you with information on services, places, and people in the Trust. PALS can also liaise with you and the people involved in your care to resolve problems.

PALS wants to know what you think about the service you are receiving. Any comment you make is valuable in helping us improve our services. 

Ask a member of staff for a comment card.

If you have any concerns about the care and treatment, you can contact the ward manager or the PALS service. Likewise, if you would like to give a compliment about the service you can contact PALS as well.

For contact details and more information visit the PALS website page. 

Interpreting Service 

If English is not your first language and you need some help, please ask your keyworker for more details about support available to you.

We can arrange a telephone translation, or face-to-face translation support if you need help for things like your Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings or Tribunals.

You might be staying on the ward because you've been kept in hospital under the Mental Health Act (1983). This means doctors believe you need care and support to help you feel better. Soon after you arrive, staff will meet with you and explain your rights to you and also give you written information about your rights.

This information will explain:

• Why you are staying in hospital
• What treatments you can agree to or refuse
• That your stay won't automatically end when the current time is up
• That your stay won't automatically continue either-you'll be reviewed
• That your opinions will be listened to before any decisions are made
• What a Tribunal is and how it can help you leave hospital
• That you can get free legal help from a solicitor
• What the hospital managers and Care Quality Commission do
• That you have the right to speak to an independent advocate - someone who can help you understand things and speak up for you

If you want to know more, just ask your named nurse or keyworker.

Your Tribunal

The Tribunal is an independent panel which can decide whether you should be allowed to leave the hospital. It will hold a meeting with you and with staff from the hospital who know you. This meeting is called a hearing.

You can ask someone else to come to the hearing to help you, if you want. This may be a family member or advocate. Before the hearing, the members of the Tribunal will read reports from the hospital about you and your care. You should receive a copy of these reports.

You will be asked some questions by the Tribunal panel, along with your doctor and others who have been involved in your treatment. They will then make a decision about your appeal. You will then be informed of this decision.

You can ask a solicitor to write to the Tribunal for you and help you at the hearing. The hospital and the Law Society have a list of solicitors who specialise in this. It is free of charge under the Legal Aid Scheme.