Welcome to the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale We’ve put together this folder with information about our hospice that you might find useful – such as the services we offer, how we can help and what you can expect from us. We want you to have a really comfortable stay with us, and get the most out of what we can offer. So just let us know if there’s anything that you need or something we can do for you, your family and your friends. You can always speak to your nurse if you have any questions or concerns about your care, or have any thoughts or suggestions about our hospice. We’re here to provide you, and those close to you, with our very best care and support. Paula Elson, Hospice Manager Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale Bridgeman Road, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan CF64 3YR Reception: 02920 426 000 Ground floor ward: 02920 426 017 First floor ward: 02920 426 027 Email: [email protected] mariecurie.org.uk/cardiff Contents Your room 2 Food and drink 5 Medication 6 Information for your visitors 7 Preventing infections and how you can help 9 How to reduce your risk of falling 11 Our services and how we can help 12 Sources of information and other support for you 15 General information 16 How we keep your information safe and confidential 17 Let us know what you think 18 A little about Marie Curie 19 How you can support our work 21 List of TV channels and radio stations 22 Hospice information for in-patient care Page 1 Your room Your bed As your bed is adjustable, our nursing staff will explain to you how the bed’s control buttons work. We want you to be as comfortable as possible, so let us know if you need any extra blankets or pillows. Call bell Your room has a call bell which you can use when you want us to know you need help. To activate it, press the orange button on the handset by your bed and one of our nurses will be with you shortly. If it’s an emergency, press the handset’s yellow button instead and we’ll respond to you as quickly as we can. Light switches Your room’s light switches are located by the door and above your bed. Handrails We’ve installed handrails to help you move around the bathroom and when you’re using the toilet. Wardrobe/bedside locker To keep your room tidy, you can store your belongings such as toiletries, nightwear, underwear, non-slip slippers and day clothes in the wardrobe/bedside locker. Towels and laundry We’ll provide you with fresh towels as and when you need them. As we don’t have laundry facilities at our hospice, please ask your relatives or friends to take your laundry home. In certain situations, we can arrange to have some of your items washed. Hospice information for in-patient care Page 2 Mobile phone You can use your mobile phone in our hospice. We just ask that you’re considerate of other people when talking on your phone, and that you keep your phone on silent mode. Newspapers Newspapers are available on request – just ask us. TV The digital TV in your room offers a wide range of programmes. Individual sets with wireless headphones are available on request. Please see page 22 for the TV channels and radio stations guide. Internet access Wi-Fi is available at the hospice. You don’t need an access code to connect to it. Accessing the garden You’re most welcome to use the garden – it’s here for you to enjoy. You can get there by using the lift in the main corridor which will take you to the lower basement level where the garden is located. Smoking We have a smoke-free policy at the hospice. However we recognise that some people may wish to smoke and we’ll try to make this possible where reasonable. Our staff can direct people wishing to smoke to a designated smoking area in the rear garden. For those wishing to smoke (including e-cigarettes), please follow the guidance below: We don’t allow smoking inside, or in front of, the hospice at any time. Anyone who wishes to smoke may do so only if it doesn’t cause discomfort to others. Our staff members are unable to accompany people who wish to smoke. Smoking is allowed in the designated smoking area in the rear garden. For security reasons, we lock our doors each evening at 9pm so if you wish to use the garden after this time, please discuss it with the nurse in charge. Hospice information for in-patient care Page 3 Fire alarm We test our fire alarm every Tuesday at 1pm. If you hear the alarm at any other time, please wait for instructions from our staff. Valuables As we’re unable to take responsibility for the loss of or damage to your valuables at our hospice, it’s best not to bring them with you. If you do have valuable items with you, please ask our nursing staff to lock them away while you’re staying with us. Maintenance faults If you notice any room or equipment faults, please let us know so we can get them fixed. Electrical items If you bring any electrical items with you, our maintenance staff will need to test them to ensure they are safe for use in the hospice. Hospice information for in-patient care Page 4 Food and drink Our usual meal times Breakfast: 8am – 8.30am, or when you wake up Lunch: 12.15pm Evening meal: 5.30pm – 6pm We serve freshly prepared food, all cooked by our in-house chef. Please refer to our menu on the back pages of this folder to see what’s on offer. We always try to offer a wide choice of dishes on our menu. You can also talk to the chef if you have any special requests or dietary needs. While we may have our usual meal times, as above, you can still request food at any time depending on when you want to eat. You can choose to eat your meals in your room or in the day room. If your relatives or friends wish to bring food for you, please check with our staff. For health and safety reasons, we’ll need to make sure the food your visitors bring for you can be stored and eaten safely. Refreshments During the day, our hospice volunteers and housekeeping staff will provide you with hot drinks and water. If you’d like a soft drink or some chocolate, just ask us. Hospice information for in-patient care Page 5 Medication Please make sure you have with you all the medication that you’re currently taking, and do let your nurse know what they are. Your named nurse will administer your regular medication as and when you need to take them. We can also provide you with any extra medication you need to help with your symptoms, such as pain or nausea, so you’re as comfortable as possible throughout your stay with us. Our regular medication rounds begin at around: 8am 12 noon 5pm 9.30pm Hospice information for in-patient care Page 6 Information for your visitors Our hospice visiti ng times are flexible as we want your family and friends to feel they’re welcome to visit you while you’re staying with us. However, you may want to be mindful that, too many visitors for too long, or late night visits, can be tiring for you. You may also wish to have some time on your own – just let us know and we’ll inform reception. For security reasons, we lock the doors to our hospice between 9pm and 7am everyday. If you wish to have visitors during these times, please speak to your nurse about it. Your visitors can visit you in your room. You’re also welcome to use one of the lounges, or the family room, quiet rooms or gardens. If you wish to leave the hospice to go out for a short time, please let us know so we’re aware of where you are. Children We welcome visiting children at our hospice. We only ask that those under 14 are supervised at all times while they are in the hospice. We have a children’s play area on the first floor of our hospice. You can ask our nursing staff if you wish to use this facility. Pets We know that pets can have a really positive effect on people. So if you have a pet you’d like to see, it’s often possible to bring it in. Please make sure that your pet is supervised at all times when in the hospice. If you have a dog with you, please keep it on a lead at all times. Hospice information for in-patient care Page 7 Smoking We have a smoke-free policy inside our hospice building. For information on our designated smoking areas, see page 3. Parking Free parking is available in the hospice grounds. If the hospice car park is full, you can find additional parking on the main road outside the hospice. Family day room At the entrance to both wards, we have a day room which your visitors are welcome to use, and where you’ll find facilities for making tea and coffee. If your visitors would like a hot snack or meal they can visit the caf it’s located on the ground floor near reception and the opening times are on the entrance door.