Transfer from Rotherham or Barnsley Hospital to Firth 2
Information for patients Sheffield Vascular Institute
PROUD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
page 2 of 8 You have been given this information leaflet because you need to be transferred to Firth 2. This is the vascular ward at the Northern General Hospital and is part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. You will have been seen by a Vascular Consultant in the outpatient clinic or on your ward, who believes that your care needs to take place on the vascular ward in Sheffield. There are no vascular wards at Rotherham or Barnsley Hospital. Firth 2 is part of Sheffield Vascular Institute which is one of the largest vascular centres in Europe. We specialise in the treatment of all circulatory conditions affecting the arteries, veins and lymphatics. If you wish to find out more about the Sheffield Vascular Institute then look under the Guide to Services of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website ( www.sth.nhs.uk )
When will I be taken to the vascular ward? As soon as it has been decided that you need to be transferred, the vascular bed manager will be informed. Sometimes a bed is not available straight away on Firth 2, but we will try to get you there as soon as possible. Occasionally if your case is very urgent you may be taken to another ward at the Northern General Hospital so that your treatment may begin. Some vascular problems are more urgent than others, so in some cases it is safe to have to wait a few days before you move.
page 3 of 8 How will I get to the Northern General Hospital? Once it has been confirmed that a bed on Firth 2 is ready for you, the nursing staff on your current ward will inform you. They will arrange for an ambulance to take you there. Family members will not be able to travel with you, or take you themselves. The staff on the ward you are on will also let your family know when you are to be transferred and will confirm with them when you have left the ward to travel to the Northern General Hospital.
Can I stay and be treated where I am? Unfortunately this is not possible as Rotherham and Barnsley Hospitals do not have an inpatient service for vascular patients. The specialist tests and procedures that you need are not performed there, and the vascular team is not based there. Following your transfer you will be looked after by a team who specialise in the care of patients with vascular conditions. This team includes surgeons, nurses and radiologists.
What do I need to take with me? When you are transferred, you will need to take with you all of your belongings. The nurse will arrange for your notes, a list of your medications and any other important information to be sent with you.
When can my family visit? Visiting times on Firth 2 are daily from 8.00am to 8.00pm. Only two visitors per patient may visit at once and children under the age of 12 are not permitted to visit. This is a guideline and we always permit visitors for patients who are very sick or those who may wish for their relatives to assist in certain aspects of care. If you have any concerns please contact the nurse in charge.
page 4 of 8 If you are feeling anxious about your transfer to Firth 2, it is possible to arrange for a member of your family or your carer to be present when you arrive on the ward. A more detailed booklet about Firth 2 will be provided to you following your transfer to the ward.
Will I return to my local hospital when my treatment has finished? Most patients will go directly home once their treatment on Firth 2 has finished. However, sometimes patients are transferred back to their local hospital if they require further hospital treatment before they are ready to go home.
Information for your visitors Your family and friends can make enquiries about your progress by phoning the ward. If they wish to do this, we ask that they choose one person to ring, who can then pass on the information to other family members. This helps us spend more time with patients and less time answering the phone. Your family and friends can telephone you directly using the Patient Line telephone service.
Useful contact numbers • Firth 2: 0114 271 4602 0114 271 4685
• Northern General Hospital: 0114 243 4343
page 5 of 8 How to get there
By public transport The Northern General Hospital is on the north side of the city, about three miles from the city centre, and is served by several buses. Details of these bus routes and other public transport options can be found in the Sheffield Hospital Travel Guide. The guide is available from Travel South Yorkshire and can be obtained by calling Traveline on 01709 515151 or visiting their website www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
By car The hospital can be accessed from both Barnsley Road (A6135) and Herries Road (A6102). If you are using SatNav, the postcode for the hospital is S5 7AU. Car parks are well signposted from each entrance. There is a charge for parking. For details of current charges telephone 0114 226 6353. Please be aware that wheel clamping is in operation within the hospital grounds. This is to ensure that ambulances and other emergency services have free access to the hospital at all times. To avoid being clamped, please make sure that your car is parked in a designated parking space. Parking is limited, so we recommend using public transport if at all possible. Disabled car parking spaces are available near the main entrances to all major buildings.
page 6 of 8
page 7 of 8
Alternative formats can be available on request. Please email: [email protected] © Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2019 Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the “Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005” SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Email [email protected]
PD7398-PIL2995 v4 Issue Date: December 2019. Review Date: December 2022