Kemerton Ward - Cheltenham General Hospital

Kemerton Ward
Cheltenham General
Hospital
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Dear patient
My name is Julie Harvey and I am the Senior Sister in charge of
Kemerton Ward. On behalf of my staff and myself I would like to
welcome you to our ward. We hope your experience is one where
we Listen, Help, Care and Unite as a Team to put you the patient
first, enabling us to provide a service that is better for you in
accordance with the Trust’s values as an Organisation.
The ward is a female only surgical ward to provide privacy
and dignity for females undergoing surgical procedures and
investigations.
There are 25 beds on Kemerton and we work with 15 consultants:
• Mr Poskitt ,Mr Whyman and Mr Bulbulia who specialise in
vascular surgery as well as General surgery.
• Mr Gilbert and Mr Kinder who are Urologists.
• Mr Bristol, Mr Chan and Miss Court who specialise in Breast
surgery as well as General surgery.
• Mr Hayman, Mr Kerr-Wilson, Mr Gornell, Mr Holmes, Mr Kaloo,
Mrs McCrum and Mrs Reddy who are all Gynaecologists.
The permanent nursing team is made up of myself Senior Sister, 2
junior sisters and a team of staff nurses and auxiliaries. There are
also Nurse Practitioners who work closely with both the medical
team and the nursing teams and you will meet them in both outpatient
clinics and during your stay in hospital. We also have a ward
clerk, domestics and a volunteer all of whom are part of the team.
Student nurses are on the ward at various stages of their training
gaining surgical experience too.
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Information
• Sister -Navy blue dress/tunic/trousers with white piping.
• Staff Nurse -Blue and white striped dress/tunic/trousers with
white piping.
• Lead Health Care Assistant -Turquoise tunic/dress/trousers with
white piping.
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• Nursing Auxiliaries -Green striped dress/tunic and navy trousers
• Male Auxiliaries-white tunic and green epaulets and navy
trousers
• Bank staff, White dress/tunic and navy trousers
• Nurse Practitioners -Navy blue dress /tunic/trousers with blue
piping
• Student Nurses -Pale blue tunic/dress and navy trousers
• Ward clerk -Pale blue blouse with black trousers
• Housekeeper-Pink and white stripped dress/tunic and trousers
• Domestic -Blue and white striped dress/tunic and trousers
• Volunteers-Red shirt and black trousers
Although Kemerton Ward is very busy, the atmosphere is friendly.
Our aim is to deliver a high standard of nursing care to make your
stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
What to expect on the dav of admission
If your operation is in the morning you may go to Pamington Suite
initially where you will be prepared for theatre and then come back
to the ward post operatively. If your operation is in the afternoon
you will come direct to Kemerton at 11 0 clock unless you are told
earlier by a member of the medical team.
On arrival you will be shown the ward facilities and taken to your
bed. In the event of a bed not being immediately available you will
be asked to wait in the day room and we will get you to your bed in
time to prepare you for your operation.
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The ward is divided into 3 areas and the nurse’s work in teams:
green, blue and red which enables them to concentrate on the
delivery of care to the patients in their group.
Your Named Nurse will be the trained nurse on duty each shift who
is caring for your particular patient group, and he/she will
answer any questions you or your family may have.
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Once shown to your bed the nurse will check your details and
place an identity band on your wrist. You will be visited by the
anaesthetist who may prescribe a pre-medication usually in the form
of tablets, which you will given approximately one hour before your
operation.
You may be given an injection of a low dose antioagulant that
helps to prevent the formation of clots in the deep veins while
under anaesthetic or less mobile due to surgery. These injections are
continued daily until discharge. You may also be fitted with support
stockings.
The site of your operation may be shaved, and a member of your
surgical team will mark the site with a skin pen.
Telephone enquiries
You and your family will be told the best time to phone for news
following your operation. It would be most appreciated if one
person telephones and relays the information to the rest of the
family. The number to ring is 08454 224009.
Visiting Times
•3pm until 4.30pm.
•6pm until 8pm.
Please be aware of all the notices displayed regarding using the
decontamination gel that is available on entering the ward and at
various points on the ward as well as at the end of all beds and we
strongly advocate you use this on entering and leaving the ward.
We encourage a rest period between 2-3pm for all patients and
advise phone calls not to be made during this time.
Two visitors per bed at anyone time please as space is limited and
overcrowding poses a health and safety issue. Visiting chairs are
provided and can I ask that visitors do not sit on the beds. Children
visiting must be respectful of the environment and noise kept to a
minimum. Please ask a member of staff if you are concerned about a
patient’s condition and whether visiting is appropriate as sometimes
we may advise not for your own safety.
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We also limit the number of flowers due to lack of space and
an increased infection risk and health and safety.
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Consultant Ward Rounds
Monday to Friday all patients are seen by either their Consultant
or Registrar and ward rounds begin at 8am. However, Consultants
often visit patients in between their other commitments during
the course of the day and will often visit at the weekends as well.
Your consultant is not always available especially when your next
of kin request a meeting when they are visiting. A member of the
team (with your permission) can be contacted and atime arranged
mutually( pending their schedules as well) to see you. Please see the
nurse in -charge who will arrange this for you and or your relatives.
Operating Sessions
Consultant
Mr. Whyman
Mr. Bristol
Mr. Chan
Miss Court
Mr. Poskitt
Mr. Gilbert
Mr. Kinder
Mrs Reddy
Mr Kaloo
Mr Hayman
Mr Kerr-Wilson
Mr Gornell
Mr Holmes
Mrs McCrum
Time
Monday, Tuesday and Friday morning.
Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon.
Wednesday / Friday morning and Thursday
afternoon
Tuesday and Friday afternoon
Tuesday all day and Thursday morning.
Monday all day, Wednesday afternoon and
mornings every 2nd and 4th week in the month.
1st and 3rd Monday afternoon, 1st and 3rd
Wednesday morning, Wednesday afternoon,
Friday morning.
Monday morning
Wednesday and Friday afternoon
Friday morning
Thursday all day
Tuesday all day and alternate Monday afternoon
Wednesday all day
Thursday morning
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Medicine Rounds
8am, 12.30pm, 5.30pm, 9.30pm.
Meals
All meals are ordered by menu cards
• Breakfast 08.00 am.
• Lunch 12.30 pm.
• Supper 18.30 pm.
A drinks trolley with a selection of hot beverages is offered at each
meal time and before settling and on waking in the morning. Any
special requirements can be catered for so please let us know as soon
as you come in. On your first day of admission a limited choice may
only be available as your menus are filled in the day before, again
please let us know if a particular requirement is needed.
Day of Discharge
To maintain effective hospital admission and early discharge of
patients safely and effectively you maybe asked to kindly sit in the
dayroom or use the facilities of the discharge lounge. This enables us
to prepare and get ready the patients for surgery that day. I would
ask that before your surgery you plan who will collect you so that
transport home does not delay your discharge and causes you undue
anxiety. Ambulance criteria for discharge home is minimal owing to
reduced vehicles due to emergencies and cover is only for essential
transfer home as a last resort.
The discharge lounge is particularly used if there is a delay in you
being collected or your tablets need to be prepared in pharmacy.
We endeavour to plan discharge which ensures tablets are ready,
however sometimes your discharge is earlier than anticipated and
the request for medication may not be processed until the day
of discharge. There is a lot of paperwork your nurse will need to
complete so please be patient.
Your out-patient appointment will be sent to you in the post should
you need one.
You will also be given 7 days of tablets if applicable.
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Finally
I hope the enclosed information gives you an idea of what to expect
when you are admitted to the ward. We are abusy ward but hope
sincerely we are able to make your stay in hospital comfortable and
that your recovery is as you expect. We are willing to answer any
questions you have, please do not be afraid to ask. We ask that you
understand sometimes when we cannot do atask straight way but
know and be assured we will endeavour to assist you as soon as we
can.
We believe that everyone who works on the ward is a valued
member of the team and deserves respect and consideration.
I look forward to meeting you and hope to provide an environment
which is warm, friendly and professional.
Sister Julie Harvey
Kemerton Ward.
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GHPI0450_11_09
Author: Kemerton Ward CGH
Review due: October 2011