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Introduction
Alstone is an Orthopaedic ward which specialises in planned Orthopaedic surgery.
Our aim is to ensure that all patients receive care of the highest standard, from staff experienced in Orthopaedic care. A close working partnership with the Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists ensure that all patients’ needs are met, prior to discharge. The Trusts values play an important role in the care we provide and privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
Alstone ward is a 27 bedded ward, comprising of two female bays, 2 male bays and 3 side rooms. Each bay has toilet and washing facilities and there are 2 shower rooms situated within the ward.
The ward is led by a Senior Sister with support from 2 junior Sisters, Staff Nurses, Health Care Assistants and 2 ward clerks. An Advanced Nurse Practioner is also part of the ward team and supports doctors / nursing staff in patient care. We also facilitate placements for student nurses from the University of the West of England.
We have eleven Orthopaedic Consultants. They are supported by a team of doctors responsible for your care whilst you are on the ward
Alstone Ward is located in the College Road Wing on the 3rd floor.
What to Expect When you are Admitted to our Ward
The majority of patients are now admitted to the Orthopaedic Admission Suite, on the day of surgery. This Service is open Monday – Friday and patients are seen by the Consultant / Doctor, reviewed by the Anaesthetist and prepared and escorted to Theatre.
Patients are admitted to Alstone Ward post operatively, unless they are admitted to the ward the previous evening. A bed will have been allocated, prior to your return from theatre and a nurse will have been assigned to take responsibility for your care.
Patients undergoing Hip and Knee Replacements normally stay on the ward for 5 days, prior to going home. Early mobilisation is an important aspect of rehabilitation and patients are encouraged to wear day clothes as soon as possible
.
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 medical staff you may come in contact with while on Alstone 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 and navy trousers.
Male Staff Nurse: - White tunic with striped epaulets and navy trousers.
Student Nurse: - Pale blue dress / tunic with navy trousers.
Nursing Auxiliaries / Health Care Assistants: - Green striped dress / tunic and navy trousers.
Male Health Care Assistants: - Navy trouseres, white tunic with green epaulets.
Bank Staff: - Blue and white striped dress / tunic and trousers.
Housekeepeing staff: - Pink and white stripped dress / tunic and trousers.
Domestics staff: - Pink and white striped dress / tunic and trousers.
Yellow dress with blue tabard.
Other staff involved in your care may include doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, ward clerks, pharmacists and student nurses. Other Specialist Nurses like Nurse practitioners, Pain sisters, Tissue viability nurses etc.
Nurse Specialists: - We have Trauma & Orthopaedics nurse practitioners who work within our ward team.
Consultant Ward Rounds / When will I see a Doctor?
The various teams of doctors conduct a round every day except week ends. Whilst the Consultants visit the ward once or twice a week.
We appreciate that being in hospital can be a stressful time, not only for you but for your family too, so we aim to make your stay as comfortable as possible and aim to get you home as soon as possible so that you can continue your recuperation there.
Our philosophy of care is to ensure that each patient receives care of the highest standard. Our patients will be regarded as individuals. We strive to provide our patients with the same level of care which we want to receive ourselves should we be the patient. We believe patients' wishes should be respected and that they should be involved in decision making regarding their medical/nursing care if they so desire. Members of staff are here to help you in any way they can.
If you have any concerns about your surgery or care, or any of the services provided, speak to someone immediately so that your concern can be sorted out as quickly as possible.
Facilities
The facilities on the Ward include: -
Each Bay – A toilet and wash basin cubicle
Side Rooms – A wash basin in each room with one room having ensuite shower facilities
Ward Area – I toilet and I newly refurbished shower room
Mealtimes and Catering
You will be given a menu card every day to choose your meals for the next day.
| Early Morning Tea: - | 6.45am - 7.00am |
|---|---|
| Breakfast: - | 7.45am - 8.30am |
| Lunch: - | 12.30pm – 1.00pm |
| Supper: - |
5.15pm - 6.30pm |
| Beverages: - | Mid morning / mid afternoon / late evening. |
Protected mealtime has now been encouraged at lunchtime. This enables each patient to enjoy their meal, without being disturbed. X-rays, Consultant ward rounds have now been discouraged, unless absolutely necessary.
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
Two visitors per bed at any one time please. This is necessary not only because the patient will be overtired by more, but space is limited and overcrowding poses a health and safety hazard. We also limit the amount of flowers due to lack of space, infection risk and health and safety.
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 4261
Or Telephone Switchboard on 08454 22 2222 and ask for Alstone Ward.
It would be helpful if one member of your family telephones and relays the information to the rest of your family and friends.
There is also a telephone for each patient at the bedside. You may purchase phone cards from machines located around the hospital to enable you to make phone calls. Relatives and friends can telephone you; on the number you will be given on admission.
Going Home
When you arrive on the ward your nurse will advise you approximately how long your stay in hospital will be. We hope you have already made some plans and preparations for your discharge and how you will manage when returning home. We are unable to provide hospital transport to take you home and this is another consideration to be made prior to admission. Discharge planning starts as soon as you are admitted as we like to know your social circumstances and give you a proposed date for discharge. A more definite date is normally given twenty four hours before your discharge. For your discharge to go ahead your team of doctors, the physiotherapist, occupational therapist and nurse have to be happy that you are fit and ready. Prior to your discharge you may receive all or some of the following: - an outpatient’s appointment, a practice nurse appointment, medication and aids from the physiotherapist and occupational therapist. 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.
There are several WRVS shops around the hospital. For information Click Here
Newspapers and magazines can be purchased daily from the trolley which visits the ward between 10.00am – 12noon.
A Dietician, Chiropodist, Dentist and Pharmacist are all available on site and the staff will inform you of these in more detail should you wish.
Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy will arrange for your family to observe / help with sessions if you wish, particularly prior to discharge.
Social Services
We've got a good team of social workers based in the hospital. If you need any social help please contact a member of staff they will be able to arrange this service.
If any special help is needed for communication (English as a 2nd Language) the staff will arrange an interpreter or your friends / relatives are welcome to help.
Chaplaincy staff visit the Ward, or you may arrange for your own spiritual advisor to visit.