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Introduction
Ward 3B is an elective Orthopaedic ward. This means we have patients who are undergoing routine Orthopaedic surgery comprising mainly of hip replacements, knee replacements and spinal surgery. We also undertake other joint surgery to the body.
Care is supported by a strong nursing structure, which is part of the Surgical Directorate in the Trust.
The Lead Nurse manager for the Trauma and Orthopaedic wards heads the team. The Senior Sister and Ward Sister lead the ward based teams, where we have team leaders. The remaining nursing staff are divided into these teams.
The other wards within the Orthopaedic Directorate are 2A and 3A. When we have to take transfers from other wards they are from within orthopaedics, MRSA negative and should have confirmed discharge dates. We also take patients from the Day Surgery Unit if they need an overnight stay.
3B is a large and very busy ward. We have 35 beds, E bay reverting to 3A when hospital pressure dictates.
You will find the ward in the Tower Block on the 3rd floor.
What to Expect When You are Admitted to Our Ward
Patients for theatre go straight to S.A.S (Surgical Admission Suite) and then come to the ward straight from theatre.
When you arrive on the ward you will be shown to your bed. In the event that a bed is not available, we will ask you to wait in the dayroom until one is available. This can take some time. The nurse in charge of your care will keep you informed and give you an indication of the time you will be expected to wait. A name band will be put on your wrist and bloods will be taken.
Once shown to your bed, a nurse will see you. They will check all your details and give you time to ask any further questions that may have arisen since pre-admission clinic. You will then see a doctor, anaethetist and your 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. 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 Ward 3B 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: - Navy trousers, white tunic with blue epaulets.
Student Nurse: - Pale Blue
Nursing Auxiliaries / Health Care Assistants: - Green / white striped uniform.
Housekeepeing staff: - Pink Stripe
Domestics staff: - Pale blue
Consultant Ward Rounds / When Will I See a Doctor?
The various teams of doctors conduct a ward round every morning except at weekends.
Facilities
The facilities on the ward include: -
We have 3 bays of six beds for female patients each with own toilet facilities and acces to female shower room.
We have 2 bays of six beds for male patients each with own toilet faclities and access to shower/bathroom.
We have 5 individual rooms
Mealtimes and Catering
You will be given a menu card every day to choose your meals for the next day. All diets will be catered for.
| Early Morning Tea: - | 7.00am |
|---|---|
| Breakfast: - | 7.30am |
| Lunch: - | 12.30pm |
|
Supper: - |
5.30pm |
| Beverages: - | Mid morning, mid afternoon, late evening. |
Fosters Restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Tower Block next to the lifts. For more information Click Here
Visitors
Visiting times are: - 3.00pm - 4.30pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm daily
No visitors are allowed on the day of your surgery if you are having a major operation.
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 5340 / 5341
Or Telephone Switchboard on 08454 22 2222 and ask for the Ward.
Going Home
You will have to be signed off by the Doctor, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and the Nursing staff prior to discharge. Any tablets required will be prescribed to take home.
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.
Visitors are requested not to sit on patients beds, this is to help minimise the risk of spread of infection and for other health and safety reasons.
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.
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.
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.
