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Introduction
Eyford is a ward specialising in the care of patients undergoing Ophthalmic (Eye) surgery as well as Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. The majority of the work is with day case patients, the inpatients being cared for on Montpellier ward or in the case of Oral Surgery, Knightsbridge ward.
The ward is lead by a Ward Manager and Sister, supported by trained and untrained staff. A large majority of the staff specialist eye trained nurses. We are also a teaching hospital so have student nurses at times. There are two Ward Clerks.
We have 10 Consultants (eyes) and 3 Oral Maxillorfacial Consultants, within the unit who are assisted by specialist registrars, staff grades, associate specialists, fellows and SHO’s.
The ward is very busy with a large turnover of patients. We aim to be courteous and considerate to patients and colleagues as well as appreciating the importance of establishing good relationships. We maintain a high standard of Ophthalmic nursing skills and management of the blind and partially sighted.
Eyford Ward is located in East Block on the second floor.
What to Expect When you are Admitted to our Ward
When you arrive on the ward you will be shown to a bay. Your details will be checked as well as blood pressure and pulse. You may also have a vision check. Most likely drops will be instilled into your eye in preparation for your operation. Following care will depend on the reason for your admission.
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 Eyford Ward are: -
Consultants
For more information on the Consultants please click on their name.
Sister: - Navy blue dress / tunic / trousers.
Staff Nurse: - Blue and white striped dress / tunic with red piping and navy trousers.
Nursing Auxiliaries: - Green striped dress / tunic and navy trousers.
Housekeepeing staff: - Pink and white stripped dress / tunic and trousers.
Domestics staff: - Pale green and white striped dress / tunic and trousers.
Yellow dress with blue tabard.
Consultant Ward Rounds / When will I see a Doctor?
All patients see the doctor prior to going to theatre. This is to sign their consent form and give them the opportunity to ask any last minute questions.
Facilities
Patients go into theatre in their normal clothes; only under special circumstances do we ask people to change into a gown. There are areas to do this. We have toilets on the ward and all are accessible to disabled patients.
Mealtimes and Catering
There are no set meal times due to the nature of our ward. All patients are offered refreshments on their return from the theatre. Coffee/Tea/Cold drinks biscuits or sandwiches in the afternoon.
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 4002
Or Telephone Switchboard on 08454 22 2222 and ask for the Ward.
Cleanliness and Infections in Hospital
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.
