Your stay on the ward

Before your stay

Please ask your friends or family to bring in:

• suitable clothes
• non slip, well-fitting shoes
• toiletries

We may need information about your home, for example the height of furniture or layout. We may need to deliver equipment to your home or arrange for a member of our team to visit your home to assess it. 

Before coming onto the ward we encourage you to think about what you currently struggle with, and what you would like to work towards during your stay.

Please provide contact details of 1 family member we can contact during your stay.

During your stay

Our nursing team will meet you when you arrive on the ward. They will settle you in and do some assessments.

You'll meet our therapy team within the first 24 hours of your stay. They will discuss what you want to achieve during your stay and will set goals. We'll look at these goals with you each week to review your progress.

After your first assessment, you'll see a doctor each week.

We'll set your estimated discharge date within your first 2 weeks with us. You'll usually stay for 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological patients can stay for 6 to 12 weeks.

You should always have a call bell within reach. 

Visiting hours are 2pm to 7.30pm, Monday to Sunday. We have protected mealtimes so you can enjoy your meal without interruption. These are between midday to 1pm and 5pm and 6pm.

Therapy sessions

You'll have regular therapy sessions. These will be 1-to-1 and group sessions. If you have visitors and would like them to come to your session, please tell the therapist. If you decline a session, we will try to reschedule it.

All sessions will be tailored to your needs and goals. You may have a weekly timetable to help guide you through your treatment.

We'll discuss your home environment with you and how you managed before. We'll ask what support you may need when you leave the ward. We may need to assess your home but we will ask for your consent first.

We expect you to take part on all the rehabilitation we offer you. This may involve you:

• doing more for yourself, with staff watching and supporting you when needed
• doing exercises or activities we recommend, on your own or with help from our nursing team or friends and family

If you have any questions about your therapy, please ask a member of our therapy team.

After your stay

There are a number of options for you when you're ready to leave the ward. These are based on your previous situation, your current condition and your personal needs. We'll talk to you and you family before you leave hospital about your options, including:

• going home with no formal support, or support from family
• going home with short-term rehabilitation support
• going home with a long-term care package
• moving in with family members
• moving to a residential or nursing care home if your needs cannot be supported at home

We are generally unable to wait for rehousing, or major adaptations to be made to your home, before you leave. If there is a delay, we'll work with you and other agencies to make sure you're supported at home until longer-term arrangements can be made.

We'll give you information about other services that may be useful for you. We may refer you to other services, including the community therapy teams, to continue your rehabilitation at home. We will always ask for your consent before we refer you.

We'll write to your GP when you leave.