Montpellier Ward

Introduction

Montpellier Ward is a private ward consisting of thirteen side rooms based in the trauma and orthopaedic unit, but accepting any speciality, excluding chemotherapy. We are also an allocated ward for step down cardiac patients.

The ward is led by a Ward Manager, assisted by a Charge Nurse, supported with Staff Nurses and Nursing Auxiliaries.

The multi-disciplinary team is formed by any of the professional bodies needed to support your care.

Any Consultant who is employed by the Trust is able to admit a patient to the Ward.

We have an excellent domestic staff that creates a clean, bright and cheerful environment.

Montpellier Ward is located on level three in the College Road Wing.

What to Expect When you are Admitted to our Ward

On admission to Montpellier Ward, you will be welcomed by the Private Patient Liaison officer who will show you to your room.

An allocated staff nurse will take your medical details and co-ordinate your care with the appropriate consultant.

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.

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

The Consultant can visit the ward at any time during the day and will inform you of his next visit.

The nursing staff can be identified by the following coloured uniforms: -

Sister: - Navy blue dress/tunic/trousers.
Charge Nurse: - Navy blue tunic/trousers.
Staff Nurse: - Blue and White striped dress/navy trousers.
Nursing Auxiliaries: - Green striped dress/tunic/navy trousers.
Student Nurse: - Pale blue dress/tunic/navy trousers.
Domestic Staff: - Pink and white striped tunic.

Medicine Rounds

Medicine rounds take place at: -
8.00am, 12.00pm, 6.00pm and 10.00pm.

Facilities

Each room is en-suite and has a television and radio/CD player and refrigerator. This will be stocked with any juices you may require or it can be used to chill bottled water.

Mealtimes and Catering

The waitress will come to your room and take an order before lunch and before supper.

Breakfast is served by the ward staff.

Visitors

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

How to Contact the Ward

You and your family will be informed by the admitting nurse of the best time to enquire following a particular procedure.

Telephone numbers: - 08454 22 3477 / 3479

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

There is a telephone in each room. You may purchase phone cards from a machine located by the lift on level three, College Road Wing.

Going Home

Your Consultant and the multi-disciplinary team will continually keep you updated with a discharge date. Any medication you may require will be prescribed by your Consultant and an appointment will be organised for the applicable date and venue.

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

A daily newspaper of your choice is included in your bill.

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.

The Occupational and Physiotherapist will be available to help patients with any mobility problems at home. If equipment is assessed to be necessary, it will be supplied.

Chaplaincy staff visit the Ward, or you may arrange for your own spiritual advisor to visit.

Any Questions?

If you have any concerns during your hospital stay, please do not hesitate to talk to the Ward Manager. She is always willing to answer any questions whilst on duty.