Information for patients at Hospital

Enhancing the health and independence of the people of www.scdhb.health.nz n Tell us if you have any spiritual or cultural needs that are not being met. Information for Patients We support your right to be fully informed about your health situation and care. Please don’t hesitate to ask at Timaru Hospital for more information or to question anything you don’t understand. This information is provided to answer common We encourage the support of a close relative/whanau or friend and we are happy to discuss how they can be questions about your stay or visit to Timaru involved in your care. If your child/tamariki is a patient Hospital. If you have any questions not covered and you want to stay with them, please discuss this with in this brochure then please contact the Hospital ward staff. on 03 687 2100. Many staff will be involved in your care You can expect all staff to introduce themselves and explain their role in your care. All staff wear identity badges. Getting it right: what we can both expect While in hospital you will be under the care of a specialist consultant, who may have the support of a house surgeon. We want your hospital experience to be a positive one. It’s During the week you will be seen daily by a doctor. During useful to understand what you can expect from us, and us weekends a doctor will see you if needed. from you. The Code of Patients Rights leaflet is available in every patient area. Please ask for a copy. Posters describing You will always have a nurse or key worker assigned to our Policy of Care are also displayed throughout the hospital. your care. If you need help at any time, use the call button at your bedside and in bathrooms to ring your nurse. While you are in hospital, we ask that you please: Your nurse will be supported by a team of other n Be open and honest about your health, so we can work professionals including physiotherapists, occupational together to plan your care. therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, dieticians, n Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or use illicit drugs. pharmacy staff, radiology technicians, social workers, care n Always wear your identification bracelet unless otherwise assistants and administrative staff. You can ask to see any instructed by staff. of these people. n Don’t leave the ward without checking with a nurse, as we need to know where you are at all times. Information about your healthcare n Label all clothing and don’t bring any valuables to We collect information about you and your health for many hospital. While we make every effort, we can’t be reasons – to provide you with appropriate care, to keep you responsible for your possessions. and others safe, to plan for and fund health services, to carry n Follow staff instructions in the event of an emergency. out teaching and research, and for statistical purposes. We share this information with others involved in your care. n Don’t use cell phones within one metre of any medical equipment or anywhere in ICU/CCU. Be assured that your information is kept secure and only authorised people have access to it. This may include other n Prepare for medical procedures according to the agencies, where authorised by law. instructions given to you. if in doubt, ring the department or ask a staff member. You have the right to request copies of any information Timaru Hospital holds about you and to request changes n Respect the rights of other patients and staff. to inaccurate information. n Respect hospital property and return anything loaned. Please contact the Privacy Officer on 03 687 2364 if you n Tell us if you feel your rights are not being met to your have any questions. satisfaction, or if you are unsure about any aspect of your care. Timaru hospital is smokefree Cell phones & handheld devices (pdas) South Canterbury District Health Board is a smoke-free cellphones and electronic devices like PDAs can interfere environment and workplace. This means smoking is not with medical equipment. Please do not use these items allowed in any building or surrounding grounds. within one metre of medical equipment or anywhere in Help, advice and nicotine replacement therapy is available ICU/CCU. If in doubt, check with your nurse. We ask that if you experience difficulties regarding smoking – just ask you comply with any staff request to turn off these items. ward staff. P Parking Items to bring with you to hospital 120-minute free parking is available in the car park near the n Any items specifically requested in the letter sent to you main hospital entrance, which has six disabled spaces, and confirming your admission date. along Queen Street. There are two free car park areas off Edward Street. Parking on High Street has no time limit. Car n Medications prescribed by your doctor and any others parks are unsupervised. Vehicles are left at the owner’s risk. you are currently taking. n Any private x-rays or scans. Non- residents n Nightwear, dressing gown, day clothing and slippers. You will be required to provide proof of eligibility for n Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, comb, brush, publicly-funded health services; for example, details of sanitary items if required, and tissues. your work, student or residency visa. n Glasses or contact lenses, hearing aid, walking aid, If you cannot provide this proof, you will be required to pay dentures. for the health services you receive. n A favourite toy or blanket for a child. n Change for the telephone/newspapers. Patient services n Pen, paper, books, magazines. Please remember, we n Advocacy Service cannot take responsibility for your belongings. Any A free, independent Advocacy Service is available to personal items left after your discharge will be disposed support you, your relatives and whanau, and help ensure of after three months if we cannot contact the owner. your rights are respected. The service can be contacted on 03 687 2291. Discharge from hospital by 11am 11 n Hospital Chaplain and Chapel Our aim is to discharge patients by 11am each day. Please An ecumenical chaplain is on call to offer support, make sure you have made arrangements to be picked up. counsel, or sacramental ministry. Your personal beliefs, culture and privacy will always be respected. The hospital Visitors chaplain, or your own religious or spiritual leader, can be We ask visitors to check with ward reception on arrival to contacted at any time through your ward staff. ensure their family member or friend is accepting visitors. The Hospital Chapel, located between the Clinical In general, wards are open to visitors between 2pm and Services Block and the Gardens Block, is open 24 hours 8pm, but there are some exceptions. Some wards provide for anyone to use. a “patient rest period” and visitors are not admitted during n Kaumatua this time. Because visiting times vary across the hospital, it The hospital’s Kaumatua Liaison Officer can be contacted pays to ask ward staff what hours they are currently open. on 03 687 2153. Visiting Coronary/Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive n Family/Whanau Room Care is by appointment only. A Family/Whanau Room is available for patients and their relatives on level 3 near the hospital cafe. n Patient Meal Times Breakfast 8 am Keeping Infection out of the Hospital It is important to practice good hygiene while in hospital Dinner 12 pm -12.30pm and stay safe from common infections. Tea 5 pm Tell your visitors to stay away if they have experienced If you are on a special diet, for example vegetarian or diarrhoea, vomiting or flu symptoms in the past 48 hours. gluten-free, ask your nurse about the food options A telephone can be borrowed to speak to people who available. cannot visit in person because they may be infectious. n Hospital Cafe Patients are encouraged to wash their hands or use hand The hospital cafe is located on level 3. It is open gel before eating, and after visiting other parts of the weekdays 7 am – 7 pm; weekends and public holidays hospital. Visitors should also wash their hands or use 8.30 am – 2 pm. hand gel at the beginning of their visit, and as they leave n Vending Machines and Café Bars the bedside. Vending machines are available in the hospital’s main If an infection is suspected or identified, sometimes a entrance foyer. Café bar facilities are available in waiting patient will be cared for in isolation. There are special areas throughout the hospital. If you are waiting for tests precautions to be taken when visiting an isolated patient. or a procedure, please check with a nurse before you eat Please talk to staff if you have any questions. or drink. n Mail/Parcels/Flowers We welcome your feedback Inward mail is delivered twice daily on weekdays. For Timaru Hospital staff want to improve the services we outward mail, stamped envelopes may be given to your provide. We welcome your comments, positive or negative, nurse or placed in the post box outside the hospital’s as part of our efforts to identify what we do well and what main entrance. Flowers and parcels are delivered as we could do better. Please let staff know immediately if they arrive. you are unhappy with any part of your care so issues can n Television and Radio be resolved. Televisions are available in the patient lounge of each You can make a complaint by: ward. You may bring your own radio, headphones, and TV by prior arrangement. • Talking to the staff concerned; Please note that any personal electrical items (i.e. TV, • Completing an I Form (feedback form) available in each radio, hairdryer, shaver, etc) must be checked by hospital ward or outpatient area; electricians before they can be used. • Contacting the General Manager, Quality and Risk, at n Newspapers Private Bag 911, Timaru, ph 03 687 2207. may be purchased each morning in each ward or from the hospital cafe. More Information n Telephones For more information about Timaru Hospital services visit Public telephones are available at the hospital’s main our website at www.scdhb.health.nz entrance, in the stairwells on levels 2 and 3 of the Clinical Services Block, and opposite Surgical Ward reception on level 5. Each ward also has a telephone for patient use – please ask your nurse. For more information about South Canterbury District Health Board services please visit www.scdhb.health.nz