Patients

Everyone at Tameside Hospital has an absolute commitment to the delivery of high quality services for our patients, and for their right to be treated with respect.  To ensure the nursing staff are aware of your presence please register your arrival at the hospital either at the "Self Check In Kiosks" or at the main outpatient reception desk based in the ‘South Entrance’ If you are being admitted as an inpatient please follow any advice given in letters from the hospital that relates specifically to your admission e.g. where to report and at what time, whether you need to bring any samples, whether you need to refrain from food and drinks before coming in, and so on.

The hospital recognises that communication with family and friends is important when someone is in hospital. In line with the principles of patient choice, use of mobile phones in hospital is allowed, as long as their use does not affect:

• the safety of patients or other people
• patients’ privacy and dignity
• the operation of medical equipment

If you need to make a call or send a text, make sure you go to an area where you can use your phone. If you’re not sure, ask a member of staff first. You may be asked to keep your phone on the silent or vibrate setting.

It's unlikely that you'll be allowed to charge your mobile phone while in hospital.

Some maternity units may permit photos to be taken with a mobile phone, for example, parents with their newborn baby as long as no staff or other patients are in the photo.

Taking of photographs (with camera phones or camera's)  is prohibited within the hospital unless prior authorisation of the communications team.

Loud ring tones and alarms on mobile phones can also be confused with alarms on medical equipment.

Areas where mobile phone use is allowed are:

• the hospital entrance or reception
• communal areas such as cafés and lift lobbies
• day rooms
• non-clinical areas on wards where direct medical care is not given

Mobile phones and medical equipment

Interference from mobile phones can stop medical equipment from working properly, for example:

• dialysis machines
• defibrillators
• ventilators
• monitors
• pumps

The hospital signs will also show you where you can’t use your phone. Areas where mobile phone use is likely to be forbidden or restricted include:

• critical or intensive care wards and units
• special care baby units and neonatal units
• any area where specialist medical equipment is being used to treat a patient

If you’re not allowed to use your phone, make sure you switch it off. Don’t just leave it on the silent or vibrate setting, because it can still affect medical equipment.

The Trust will not tolerate violence, physical aggression or verbal abuse towards their staff, patients or visitors. If this occurs, offenders will be removed from the hospital, and legal action will be taken. Criminal activity will always be referred to the police.

All staff should wear identification badges and introduce themselves to you.

You will be given the name of your named nurse and the consultant whose care you are having treatment under.

Medical, nursing and other students may ask to be present whilst you are being examined or administered treatment. You are under no obligation to agree and your care and treatment will not be affected in any way, whatever you decide.

Our staff should provide you with all the information you need. However, if you are unsure about anything, please do not hesitate to ask any member of staff - an important part of everyone’s job is to keep you well informed.

In addition to verbal information and advice, our staff also have access to good quality printed leaflets and booklets, which may be of assistance to you.

There may be occasions when you or your relatives want to speak to one of the staff involved in your care, for example a doctor, therapist or specialist nurse. You may want to discuss future plans for your treatment, or talk about your treatment in more depth. The best way to do this is to ask the nurse in charge of the ward to make an appointment. They will agree with you which members of staff you need to see.

All the information we collect about you and your illness will be kept confidential by the health team looking after you. No information about you will be given to anyone else, including your relatives, without your permission.

The ward staff will normally ask that the number of people given information (either in person or via the phone) is limited to one or two individuals.

When you are discharged, we will send your GP information about your care and treatment in hospital. We will also send copies of this information to you with your agreement.

Sources of support and feedback

All of our staff are committed to providing the best possible care to you and your relatives.  If you have any concerns about your care or treatment, or that of your relative, we need to know about them as soon as possible, so we can take action to improve the situation.

Positive comments about the care you or your relative have received are also very much welcomed, and provide a great morale booster for staff.

Please raise any comments, concerns, compliments or complaints with the nurse in charge of the ward in the first instance.