Avening Ward

Introduction

Avening Ward is very busy ward with many admissions each day. Are philosophy is to treat every patient individually looking at all your needs. The staff are there to help you in any way they can. If you come across any problems please let us know straight away so we can sort them out. We all want to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible.

The ward can be found in Centre Block on the ground floor at the rear of the hospital.

What to Expect When you are Admitted to our Ward

On arrival to the ward you will be shown to your bed and given a quick tour of the ward and its facilities. If a bed is not available immediately you will be asked to sit in the day room. It might be that sometimes you will be admitted to another ward.

The ward is a Nightingale ward and a Trained nurse will look after one side of the ward 8 patients.

The nurse responsible for looking after you will be able to answer any questions you or your family may have.

Once shown to your bed the nurse will check that your details are correct and put an identity band on your wrist.

An anesthetist will visit you. Please ask if you feel the need for a premedication before your surgery, as it is not routinely given. You will probably be given an injection of low dose anticoagulant that helps prevent the formation of clots in the deep veins whilst under anaesthetic or less mobile due to the surgery. You may also be fitted with support stockings that you wear until discharge. They are removed daily for bathing and then re-applied.

Please be aware that the Trust is now a smoke free NHS. Smoking is not permitted in any building or within the grounds of any of our sites. Information and support is available to any patients who wish to stop smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available to help reduce your cravings during your stay.

Our Staff

A variety of people will be responsible for your care whilst in hospital. Some of the staff you may come in contact with while on Avening Ward are: -

Consultants

• Mr. Hugh Gilbert
  

• Mr. Richard Kinder
  

• Mr. Keith Poskitt
  

• Mr. Mark Whyman
  

The Staff consists ofa Senior Sister and 2 Sisters and a team of Staff nurses and Nursing Auxiliaries. Also student nurses at various stages of there training.

We have a Ward Clerk and Volunteers on the Ward
There are also Nurse Practioners who you will see at Preadmission Clinics and also on the Ward.

The Nurse Practioners are able to give more detailed information and to be called on if you have specific questions that need to be answered with regards your condition and treatment

Sister: - Navy blue dress / tunic / trousers with white piping.
Staff Nurse: - Blue and white striped dress / tunic and navy trousers.
Nursing Auxiliaries: - Yellow striped dress / tunic and navy trousers.
Domestics staff: - Green dress / t-shirt and navy trousers.
House Keeper: - Pink tunic
Nurse Practitioners: - Navy blue dress/tunic/trousers with blue piping

There are many other members of staff who might be involved in your care physiotherapists, occupational therapist, social workers, pharmacist, Discharge nurses.

Consultant Ward Rounds / When will I see a Doctor?

Monday to Friday all patients will be seen on either a Consultant or Registrar ward round, starting from 8.00am.

However, Consultants also often visit patients in between their other commitments during the course of the day.

Medicine Rounds

8.00 am, 1.00pm, 5:15pm and 10:00pm.

Facilities

• Coming Soon

You will be given a menu card every day to choose your meals for the next day.

A selection of hot beverages is served with each meal, before settling and shortly after waking in the morning.

We have protected mealtimes on the ward 12.15 -1.00pm

The Catering Staff are an integral part of the meal delivery service at Cheltenham General Hospital. The staff are visible on the ward throughout most of the day, serving food, washing up and cleaning in the ward pantry as well as delivering stock. The Catering staff are easily recognised by their uniform; royal blue polo shirts, navy blue baseball caps and trousers and, of course, a smile.

Visitors

Visiting times are: - 3.00pm - 4.30pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm daily

From 2.00pm - 3.00pm we have a rest period so please advise family and friends not to ring through on bedside telephones during this time.

Two visitors at any one time only please, as space is limited and overcrowding poses a health and safety issue.

May we also ask you to limit the number or flowers by your bedside to one vase per person due to lack of space, increased risk of infection and health and safety.

Please can you ask friends and relatives not to sit on the beds,but use the chairs provided.

How to Contact the Ward

You and your family will be informed of the best time to telephone for news following your surgery.

Telephone numbers: - 08454 22 2352

Or Telephone Switchboard on 08454 22 2222 and ask for the Ward.

You have a telephone by your bed and can receive incoming calls between 8.00am and 10.00pm. If you wish to make a call you must purchase a telephone card from the dispenser situated on the ward.

You will be advised of the best time for your family to ring for information following your operation. It would be appreciated if only one member of the family rings and then relays information back to other members of the family.

Going Home

A doctor will explain if it is necessary for you to have an appointment in one of the Outpatient Clinics, after your discharge from the ward. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask the nursing staff.

Cleanliness and Infections in Hospital

Some people are admitted to hospital with infections that require them to be cared for away from other patients to prevent the spread of that particular infection. Please follow the instructions given to you by staff.

You will be nursed in a single room; the door may need to remain closed, depending on the nature of your infection. Please pay particular attention to hand washing and general cleanliness at all times, especially when leaving the room.

If you have been in contact with chickenpox, measles or mumps within 3 weeks of your admittance to hospital, please inform a member of staff.

We ask that visitors suffering from minor infections such as a cold avoid visiting if possible, for their sake as well as the patients. We do not recommend babies being brought in to visit, again for their own protection.

Hand washing. The most common means by which infection is transmitted is by hand, therefore handwashing is a very basic, yet vital infection control measure. Alcohol hand gel is kept at the entrance of the ward and at each bedside for all the visitors to use before and after visiting. For hygienic hand disinfection apply 3ml (3 shots) to physically clean hands for 30 seconds ensuring all areas are covered, until dry.

What is clostridium difficile? Also called c diff

It is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestine. Up to 5% of the population are thought to carry this without any problems. It is usually kept in check by other bacteria in the intestines, which are normally present in our gut.

What problems does clostridium difficile cause?

Some strains of c.diff produce toxins, these toxins (poisons) cause diarrhoea. It can only do this when the balance of the normal gut bacteria has been disturbed. This can happen when antibiotics are given for infections. This enables the c-diff bacteria to multiply and produce more toxins that damage the cells in the intestines causing diarrhoea.

How is it Diagnosed?

A sample of diarrhoea is sent to the microbiology lab within the hospital. The laboratory looks for c-diff the toxins produced by some strains of the bacteria

How can it be treated?

If it is possible the antibiotics that have contributed to the disease will be stopped. Sometimes other antibiotics will be given, which are effective against the c-diff bacteria

What should happen if someone has diarrheoa?

Whenever possible you will be moved into a side room, before the microbiology result of the diarrhoea specimen is known This is to help prevent the spread of this bacteria. Not all patients can be placed in side rooms. it will depend on the condition of the patient and the availability.

Personal hygiene must be very strict. Everyone must wash their hands with soap and water after going to the toilet and before eating. If diagnosed as c-diff you may be transferred to the Cohort Ward (6A). this is a 16 bedded infection control ward dedicated to the management of patients who have or are suspected to have c-diff.

What is MRSA?

The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many individuals skin and seems to cause no major problems. However if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia. Individuals who carry this organism are usually totally healthy, have no problems whatever and are considered simply to be carriers of the organism.

The term MRSA or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is used to describe those examples of this organism that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Methicillin was an antibiotic used many years ago to treat patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections. It is now no longer used except as a means of identifying this particular type of antibiotic resistance.

Individuals can become carriers of MRSA in the same way that they can become a carrier of ordinary Staphylococcus aureus which is by physical contact with the organism. If the organism is on the skin then it can be passed around by physical contact. If the organism is in the nose or is associated with the lungs rather than the skin then it may be passed around by droplet spread from the mouth and nose. We can find out if and where Staphylococcus aureus is located on a patient by taking various samples, sending them to the laboratory and growing the organism. Tests done on any Staphylococcus aureus grown from such specimens can then decide how sensitive the organism is to antibiotics and if it is a methicillin resistant (MRSA) organism. These tests usually take 2-3 days.

Why bother with MRSA?

MRSA organisms are often associated with patients in hospitals but can also be found on patients not in a hospital. Usually it is not necessary to do anything about MRSA organisms. However if MRSA organisms are passed on to someone who is already ill, then a more serious infection may occur in that individual. When patients with MRSA are discovered in a hospital, the hospital will try to prevent it from passing around to other patients. This is known as infection control.

How do we prevent the spread of MRSA?

Measures to prevent the spread of organisms from one person to another are called isolation or infection control. The type of infection control or isolation required for any patient depends on the organism, where the organism is found on an individual and the patient.

The most important type of isolation required for MRSA is what is called Contact Isolation. This type of isolation requires everyone in contact with the patient to be very careful about hand washing after touching either the patient or anything in contact with the patient. If the organism is in the nose or lungs it may also be necessary to have the patient in a room to prevent spread to others by droplet spread. Because dust and surfaces can become contaminated with the organism, cleaning of surfaces are also important.

What do visitors need to do?

Provided relatives and friends of patients with MRSA are healthy there is no restriction on visiting and it carries no risk. Visitors are not required to wear special clothing BUT we would ask you to help us prevent this organism spreading around our hospital by keeping the patients' door closed at all times and always washing your hands whenever you leave the room.

What about MRSA at home?

In patients who are otherwise well the organisms often disappear once the patient leaves the hospital. Sometimes they do not however, and this may mean that when a patient has to go back into hospital the isolation precautions need to be used again. Provided everyone at home is healthy special precautions are not required at home.

What can be done about MRSA?

In certain situations it may be a good idea to try to get rid of the organism from a patient and this can be done with various creams and shampoos or on occasions combinations of antibiotics taken by mouth or by injection depending on the health of the patient.

Additional Information

Newspapers and magazines can be purchased daily from the trolley which visits the ward between 9.00am – 12noon.

If English is not your first language, and you may require the services of an interpreter, please let the ward know before your admission, if at all possible.

If you are hearing impaired and need to sign, we may also be able to provide someone to help with this.

A Hairdresser, Dietician, Chiropodist, Dentist and Pharmacist are all available on site and the staff will inform you of these in more detail should you wish.

Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Services can be accessed via referral from Ward staff. Chaplaincy staff visit the Ward, or you may arrange for your own spiritual advisor to visit.

Any Questions?

I hope this information gives you some idea what to expect when you are admitted to the Ward.

The ward can be very busy, but I hope that you are comfortable and that your recovery is as you expect..

Please do not be afraid to ask questions.
If you could also understand that sometimes we cannot do a task straight away, we will endeavour to assist you as soon as possible.
We look forward to meeting you and hope to provide a warm friendly caring,professional envirorment.

Sr Lisa Bastyan
Avening Ward