Your Hospital Stay

Planned procedures or investigations (scans, x-rays) will be arranged during your stay. Any changes will be dependent on the decisions made by the team looking after you.

During your stay with us, the level and type of care you need may change. Depending on your condition and the ward you are on, you may be moved to a different ward to continue your recovery.

If your procedure is planned at Queen Mary’s Hospital (QMH), you will have been carefully assessed prior to being booked at this site to maximise your safety. In the unlikely event that you become significantly unwell during your admission to QMH, you may be transferred to Darent Valley Hospital (DVH) for further management.

If you need to move wards, we aim to do this during the day, however on rare occasions, it may be necessary to move you during the night. If this is the case, please accept our thanks in advance for your cooperation.

During periods of increased demand, when the hospital has reached full bed capacity, it may be necessary to accommodate patients in areas of the hospital that would not usually be used to provide care. Nonetheless, all staff remain fully committed to delivering safe, clinical care which maintains your privacy and dignity, and ensures the best possible experience and outcomes for you.

Did you know: 10 days in hospital leads to the equivalent of 10 years ageing in muscles for people over 80?!

We encourage you to get dressed in your day clothes and if safe to do so, move around during your stay to help maintain muscle strength and ability.

Get dressed

Getting dressed in your own clothes can help you feel more like yourself and makes it easier to be more mobile on the ward.

Being more mobile can helo improve your appetite and increase conversation with people on the ward.

Ask your visitors to bring in comfortable footwear, your toiletries from home such as toothbrush, toothpaste, denture pot, soap and hairbrush and a regular supply of fresh clothes. These will help you to feel more like your usual self. Please ask if you would like us to advise you on suitable footwear.

If you require glasses and/or hearing aids make sure you bring them into hospital with you and store them in the Patient Property Box provided when not in use to keep them safe.

Please note: we cannot accept responsibility for clothing or toiletries.

Exercises you can do in bed:

Dorsiflexion/Plantarflexion

Pull your toes and foot up towards you

Point your toes down as far away from you as you can

Knee Flexion/Extension

Lie on your back with your legs straight

Slide your heel on the bed towards your buttock to bend the knees as far as you can

Straighten it out

Hip Abduction/Adduction

Open one leg on the side, then, close back

Make sure that the knee is always facing up during the movement

Eating and drinking well in hospital can reduce your risk of complications, help you feel better sooner and help you to be ready to leave hospital faster.

There is a varied choice of menus available including options for vegetarian and vegan, religious and cultural needs and special dietary and allergy needs. The range of menus is available by visiting https://tinyurl.com/DGT-Patient-Menus

You may be referred to a dietician if you need any advice or support with a special diet or if you are having difficulty eating enough. You may be referred to a Speech Therapist if you are having problems with swallowing.

Allergies and Intolerances

Please inform staff of any allergies or intolerances that you may have (e.g. food, medication).

Getting ready for meals:

Washing your hands

Good hygiene is very important. Make sure you wash your hands before you eat. Please ask ward staff to assist you before your meal if you cannot get to the bathroom. Ward staff can offer you hand wipes to use before meals.

Making space

Make sure you can fit your meal tray on your table by clearing a space on your table before mealtimes. This can also make your meal more pleasurable.

Getting comfortable

If you can try to sit out in your chair to eat your meal. If you cannot sit in the chair, the bed can be moved into an upright and seated position. If you cannot do this, please ask a member of staff to help you.

Snacks are also available at Darent Valley Hospital

There are twice daily snack rounds. Items include:

• Cake
• Cheese and crackers
• Fresh fruit
• Fruit pots
• Ice cream
• Yogurt

Having a couple of extra snacks each day can provide an additional 200-400 calories. If you are concerned about your diet or how you are eating please ask.

Mealtimes are protected, this means we will minimise disruptions during this period. Help with meals will also be provided if you need it.

Breakfast             8.30-9.30am

Lunch                    1.00-1.45pm

Dinner 5.30-6.15pm

We are also able to provide an on-demand meal service 24-hours a day if you miss a meal or feel hungry. Please speak to a member of staff who can assist with ordering a meal for you.

Drink plenty of fluids

Not drinking enough can make you feel thirsty. You may also feel drowsy and confused and have a headache.

Not drinking enough can increase your risk of developing urine infection and pressure ulcers and can make you more likely to fall if you are unsteady on your feet.

You might need more drinks in hospital than you usually have at home, for example if you are losing fluid or if you have a temperature.

What can you do?

Unless you are advised by ward staff to limit your fluid intake, try to have 8-10 cups of fluid each day. Have tea, coffee, milk, soft drinks and water.

Try to have a drink every time you are offered one from the trolley, and have water from the jug too. Make sure your drink is within your reach and take regular sips throughout the day. Ask for help if your water jug needs to be or if your drink is out of reach.

Help to eat and drink

Discuss the following with your nurse

1. I need someone to help me eat/drink
2. I need my food cut up
3. I need cutlery with larger handles
4. I need to drink with my meal
5. I need to sit in a particular position

During your admission, a member of the Pharmacy team will come and speak to you or contact your carer/next of kin (with your permission), and ask you questions about medications you were taking prior to admission. Please bring you medications into hospital with you if possible to help with this process.

The Pharmacist will ask you if you have any issues taking any of your regular medications and then discuss possible solutions with you and your doctor.

Please inform a member of staff as soon as possible of you are experiencing any type of pain. It takes 2 members of staff to check and administer some strong pain medications, so the sooner staff are notified, preparations can be made for you to receive the medication you need to manage your pain.  Support whilst in hospital

The Chaplaincy and DGT Carers team are on hand to provide emotional and pastoral support whilst you are in hospital. Please ask ward staff if you would like to speak to a member of these teams.

We want to support you to get a good night’s sleep as we recognise that sleep is an important part of wellbeing and recovery  following illness or surgery.

We operate a Protected Sleep time between 11.00pm to 7.00am. During these times we will:

• Dim the lights in the ward bays
• Keep noise to a minimum
• Answer call bells, alarms and phones promptly
• Perform observations such as blood pressure and temperature only when needed

Please speak to your nurse if you have any discomfort and would like some pain relief or analgesia. We are also able to provide Sleep Kits which contain an eye-mask and ear-plugs to aid a peaceful night’s sleep.

Time can pass slowly when in hospital, so we encourage you to bring something with you to help fill the time, such as reading material.

The wards do provide some activities and books, and some areas have bedside entertainment such as radio, television and telephone (charges apply).

Free Wifi is available throughout the hospital. Please search for “NHS Wifi”.

If you have a planned admission, you may like to consider bringing in some of the following items:

• A nightdress or pyjamas
• Dayclothes
• Clean underwear
• Dressing gown and slippers
• Ear plugs and eye mask
• Toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, soap
• Razor and shaving materials
• Hairbrush or comb
• Book or magazine
• Small amount of money
• Your usual medicines
• Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids
• Important telephone numbers e.g. GP, relatives
• Mobile phone, tablet and charger

Please note the information here

Essential toiletry items

If you are not able to have your essential toiletry items brought in, please notify a member of staff, as we hold a limited stock of them.