How do I get admitted to the Inpatient Unit?
Our Inpatient Unit team meets every morning to discuss admission requests. These may come from our community nurses, GPs or hospital colleagues.
We plan admissions based on the urgency and complexity of your needs. This may mean you have to wait for a few days before a bed is available. Rest assured we'll always try to respond to urgent requests as soon as possible, including over weekends and bank holidays.
Next, we'll talk to you about whether your care should be led by a consultant or a nurse.
If you need intense care that can't be managed in another setting, and if you'll need to be seen regularly by a doctor, it's likely you'll be offered consultant-led care.
We're more likely to offer you nurse-led care if you're no longer receiving life-prolonging treatment, if you're approaching the last days of your life and wish to die at St Peter's.
What should I bring with me?
Please bring all your current medication with you, including any over-the-counter medication.
You'll also need to bring your own toiletries, clothing and nightwear. Unfortunately, we can't launder your clothing, so a family member or friend will need to do this for you during your stay.
We want you to feel at home with us, so feel free to bring in personal items like photos, blankets and books. You can bring electrical items with you but they'll need to be PAT tested. For safety, we suggest you leave valuable items and cash at home.
We'll provide as much or as little food and drink as you'd like. Everyone's tastes are different and you're more than welcome to bring in your favourite snacks and drinks.
When can I have visitors?
We have open visiting hours, but we do suggest that your friends and family try to come between 11am and 7pm. That's because long periods of visiting can be exhausting if you're unwell, and you'll need some rest.
Between 8am and 6pm, your visitors should come in through the main reception and sign in. Outside of these hours, a member of our team will let visitors in at our Inpatient Unit out of hours entrance.
If your visitors have any flu-like or respiratory symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting, please ask them to contact the Nurse in Charge before they visit.
Can anyone stay overnight with me? And what about children and pets?
The good news is that we can arrange for up to two family members to stay overnight in your room.
Children are welcome, along with a responsible adult.
We regularly meet our patient's pets. If you'd like yours to visit, have a chat with the nurse in charge.
Is there any parking?
We have free parking in our car park, included some dedicated disabled parking spaces. But we'll be honest: our car park does get full, so it may be a good plan to get to know the neighbouring roads, which offer free street parking. Please be thoughtful towards local residents.
What about meals?
Our kitchen team caters for all dietary requirements and will be happy to have a chat about your preferences.
Our main kitchen is open from 7:30am to 6.30pm. Breakfast is from 7.30am, lunch is at 12.30pm and the evening meal is at 5.30pm. We'll provide hot and cold drinks on request.
Our onsite coffee shop is staffed by volunteers and open to visitors from 11am until 4pm. Here you can buy sandwiches, salads, soup, cake and hot drinks.
You and your visitors will find tea and coffee making facilities in our two lounges. There are also fridges and microwaves for storing and heating any food and drink you've brought in.
What's the smoking policy?
We ask all patients, visitors and staff to take note of our smoking policy. We've put this together with everyone's wellbeing in mind.
We ask all visitors to smoke off-site.
It's different for patients. We know that not being able to smoke when you need to can be distressing. We'll help you as much as we can by offering you nicotine patches, gum or inhalers.
We have a designated smoking area for patients but unfortunately our staff aren't able to take you there. They need to know where you are at all times, so if you do go to the smoking area, please let them know. You won't be able to go to the smoking area at night because the building is secured and alarmed.
Because of the potential fire risk, we can't recharge e-cigarettes at the Hospice. You can ask your family members or carers to do this for you at home.
What about returning home?
Most patients stay on our Inpatient Unit for around two weeks. After that, you may return to your own home. You could move to a nursing home for longer-term care. Or you may spend the last days of your life with us.
Whatever your situation, you don't need to worry. We'll plan your next steps in full discussion with you and your family.
