Inpatients

If you are admitted to hospital, staying overnight and receiving treatment, you are an inpatient. 

We will send you a letter to confirm when you will need to arrive for a stay at one of our hospitals. Please follow the instructions in the letter.  

Electronic consent for treatment or a procedure

We use an electronic consent system (eConsent) which enables patients to see information about their treatment and provide their consent online.

The system uses a secure link sent by email and/or text message. Patients can also consent for procedures using a computer or tablet. If patients do not have a device at home, they can also give their consent online during an appointment or on the ward.

What will you need during your hospital stay

You must bring in the following items. Before you leave for the hospital, please check you have:

  • Your admission letter
  • The name and address of your GP
  • Your full postcode
  • Any medication you are currently taking
  • Details of any community services you use, such as social workers or carers 

What to bring with you during your hospital stay

  • Comfortable clothing
  • Night clothes
  • Slippers
  • Toiletries, including shaving equipment, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo
  • Flannel and towel 
  • Mobility aids (if needed)

What to avoid bringing with you during your hospital stay

  • Valuables - jewellery, credit cards, large amounts of money
  • Large amounts of food
  • Alcohol and tobacco products
  • Portable televisions or radios
     

Due to limited space, we would ask that you only bring items you really need.

Only your doctor or a senior nurse can discharge you once they are happy you are well enough to go home. We aim to discharge you by 12noon on the day you are leaving hospital. A member of the nursing team will give you an estimated discharge date within 24 to 48 hours of your arrival on the ward.

Please make a member of your nursing team aware of any housing or other problems that you may have when leaving the hospital as soon as possible, especially if you live on your own or have reduced mobility.

Leaving the hospital

It is important that you are discharged as soon as you are medically fit to leave our care, as unnecessarily prolonged stays in hospital can have a negative effect on your health and wellbeing.

On the day you leave

Before you go home, please make sure you:

  • have arranged your transport home - if you require a taxi please speak to a member of staff, as hospital transport is only available for eligible patients
  • have your discharge letter and medicines and understand how to take them
  • have asked for any certificates you need
  • check if you need a follow-up appointment
  • have your house keys
  • take all your belongings with you when you leave the hospital

The discharge lounge

In some cases you may be discharged from the ward and transferred to the discharge lounge. This is a comfortable environment for you to wait for transport or for your medication.

While there you will be looked after by our friendly nurses until you are ready to go home. You will be provided with a range of refreshments and snacks during your stay.

Admissions: information for our patients

Welcome to The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.

Your clinical care and safety are our primary focus and we are here to look after you.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of our staff.

Movement between wards

We always aim to have our patients in the right ward area, to provide the best possible care, with the right clinical team.

Sometimes it is necessary to move patients to different beds within a ward, which may not be in a traditional bed/setting; or to move them to another ward depending on their care needs.

If you are transferred during your stay with us we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience; but please be assured this will only happen if there is a legitimate reason for doing so, and our ward staff will explain the reasons to you.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Inpatient comment:

Everyone offered words of such reassurance and kindness. I felt so cared for and the communication with me at all times was fantastic.