Patients/Visitors/Clients Information for patients coming into hospital

If you live in the Belfast area, the simplest way to travel to the City Hospital is by public transport. Metro Bus routes 9A and 9B pass the Lisburn Road entrance of the Hospital on a regular basis while route 92A bus takes you to the Donegall Road entrance.

If you live outside the Belfast area, it may be convenient for you to travel by rail. Northern Ireland Railways has regular train services to and from the City Hospital halt on the lines to Bangor, Londonderry, Dublin, Larne, Newry, Portadown and Portrush.

Parking:

Car parking is available in the new multi-storey car park at the Donegall Road entrance hosting 1100 spaces. Please note there are no disabled car park spaces in this car park.

Car parking is also available in the multi-storey at the front of the Tower where the ground floor is completely dedicated to 55 disabled car park spaces. An additional car park is located to the right of the multi-storey facility and there is a further smaller public car park outside Accident & Emergency with 7 dedicated disabled parking spaces.

The Trust encourages, where possible, patients, visitors and staff to use public transport.

Admissions:

Emergency admissions are by their very nature unpredictable and it is impossible to guarantee exactly when beds will be available. Unexpected delays in the recovery of existing patients can also delay discharges.

A phone call to the ward on the morning of your planned admission is therefore necessary to ensure that there have been no unforeseen problems and that there is a bed available for you as planned. On arrival, you should take your admission form to the Admissions Office on the Ground Floor of the Tower where routine information will be noted for your medical record. You will then be directed to your ward.

Patients going to locations outside the Tower should report to the appropriate reception area. Admissions Office staff will assist if you need assistance because of visual impairment, deafness or physical disability.

Things to Bring:

Toilet Articles:	Clothing:
comb/hairbrush	pyjamas or night-dress
two face cloths	dressing gown
hand/bath towels	slippers
tissues	casual clothing
soap
toothbrush/toothpaste
container for dentures (if required)
moisturiser/hand cream (if desired)
shaving kit (battery powered razors are more convenient)

Medicines and drugs:

Your doctor may wish to prescribe new medicines or treatment for you. Before doing so, they will need to know what other medicines you are already taking, including homeopathic or herbal medicines. It is very important that you tell them about all medicines and bring them with you. As these are your property they will be returned. If treatment is stopped your permission will be sought for their destruction.

Amenity beds (single rooms):

Single room accommodation with ensuite facilities, known as amenity beds, can be booked within the Tower depending on clinical need and bed availability. However, patients may have to move if deemed necessary by staff. For further information, including details of cost, please contact your consultant or the Admissions Office.

Televisions:

Television facilities are provided for most wards. Do not bring radios or television sets without prior permission. The comfort of other patients is a prime consideration and sound levels from any private sets which are permitted must be kept to a minimum by using ear-piece facilities (except in single rooms).

Patientline

Installation of the patientline is on going with 75% of the Tower cabled and ready to go live. Ward Floors 1 to 4 is already operational and as soon as it is established there are no technical or operational difficulties other wards will follow.

Money and Valuables:

Please do not bring money or other valuables into the ward with you. All you need is a little cash to buy items from the Shop/Trolley Service. If it is not possible for you to avoid bringing money and/or valuables, we will accept responsibility only if you surrender them to your nurse who will advise you on the safekeeping and return of your property. Cash deposits are normally returned in the form of a cheque.

Cash office opening hours are:


Monday to	Thursday:	9.30 am to	4.30 pm
Friday:		9.00 am to	4.00 pm
Closed for lunch		12.45pm - 1.30pm

If you keep any valuables with you, it must be clearly understood that the Hospital does not accept responsibility for loss or damage.

Clothing and Laundry:

A bedside locker is provided for your personal belongings. Your relatives or friends are asked to take home any clothing you do not need. Please bring a small bag for this purpose. We do not usually launder personal clothing and do not accept responsibility in the event of loss or damage to personal clothing.

ON THE WARD

Doctors:

A junior house doctor is in immediate charge of your care. Your consultant will visit you on ward rounds accompanied by other doctors. If you find it difficult to talk in front of so many people, you may ask for a private conversation with the consultant.
If you are in any doubt about your progress or treatment, ask the house doctor who visits you daily.

Teaching:

We are a leading teaching hospital. This helps ensure that you receive treatment of the highest standard. As doctors and nurses learn through helping you, it is hoped that you will allow senior staff to allocate students to be involved in your care. However, you may indicate if you do not wish to be attended by students.

Research:

The hospital is involved in several major clinical trials of new drugs, as well as research into genetics, epidemiology, prevention and control of diseases. Our cancer research programme has unique links with the National Cancer Institute of the United States. Clinical research is not carried out unless patients give their consent to be involved.

Confidentiality:

Any information concerning your illness is strictly confidential. It will not be given to anyone, except the clinical staff involved in your care, without your prior permission.

Social Workers:

You may ask to see a social worker if you are experiencing any difficulties or are feeling anxious about either your admission or your discharge. A social worker is also available on-call outside normal working hours. Contact can be made through your nurse.

Pharmacist:

Should you wish for help or advice on any matter relating to your medicines, please ask the pharmacist on your ward.

Chaplains:

There are official Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic chaplains. The Methodist chaplain also takes responsibility for other traditions. The chaplains visit wards regularly. Individual requests to see a chaplain can be made through the ward staff - so too can requests to have your own clergy notified of your stay in hospital. Services for patients and staff are held regularly in the Church. It is situated on A Floor and is open at all times.

United Church Service

Celebration of Mass

A United Church Service is also held every Wednesday at 2.45pm in Ward 23 Day Room at 2.45 pm in Wakehurst House and every second Wednesday in Windsor House at 2.00pm.

Nurses:

The ward manager is known as the Ward Sister or Charge Nurse. The Sister will wear a navy uniform, Staff Nurse a blue uniform, Nursing Assistant a green uniform and Student Nurse a white uniform.

Professions Allied to Medicine:

We have a full range of diagnostic and therapy services for both inpatients and outpatients. These include:

Visiting:

Standard visiting times are 3.00 - 5.00pm and 7.00 - 8.30pm. You should not allow your visitors to crowd or tire you during their visits.

Patients need to be cared for by doctors and nurses, go for tests and procedures, so that it is not convenient to have visitors throughout the day. If you have particular difficulties with these visiting times, perhaps you would speak to the nurse in charge. Children should be supervised at all times during visits.

People should not visit if they have a cough or cold or vomiting and diarrhoea during the previous 48 hours.

Travel Expenses:

Should be claimed on date of attendance
Hospital travel claim form must be completed at your clinic/ward attendance and presented to the Cash Office on ‘A’ Floor, BCH Tower Block
Proof of entitlement must be shown for each claim
Income support/pension Credit (book or official letter)
Job-seekers Allowance – income based only (letter)
Working families’ tax credit where a HS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate has been issued
Disabled Person’s Tax Credit where a HS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate has been issued
Patients on a low income issued with a HC2 or HC3 form

Patients not in receipt of any of the above benefits who attend hospital regularly can apply on a HC1 or HC5 claim form available from their local Social Security Office.

All traveling expense fares will be reimbursed at the appropriate public transport rate
Tickets for fares paid by bus/rail must support the claim in order to receive full reimbursement
Escort expenses will only apply when the patient has travelled by bus/train and tickets have been evidenced (NB. Forms must be certified by your consultant).

NB: Please note that the Hospital is unable to pay claims over three months old. Postal claims may be sent to the Cashier for payment but must include proof of attendance and entitlement to claim.

Pensions:

Telephones and Messages:

It is understandable for your friends and relatives to want to know how your treatment is progressing. It may be helpful to identify one family member to co-ordinate enquires. Please ask them to keep their enquiries to a minimum. A nurse will advise you of the best time for them to phone.

There are coin-operated trolley phones within the ward but these should not be used to receive incoming calls. There are also pay phones located in the Main Foyer, the Emergency Unit and in each of the main buildings.

Postal Arrangements:

Please ask your friends and relatives to ensure that they clearly address any mail they send to you as follows:

(Patient’s Full Name)
(Appropriate Ward)
Belfast City Hospital
Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7AB

Gifts to Patients:

Gifts of alcohol or cigarettes are strictly forbidden. If in doubt about any other gifts, ask the advice of your nurse.

Light reading material, crosswords and small games are ideal gifts as they help pass the time.

Flowers and pot plants are not permitted in ward areas as an Infection Control measure.

Bringing food into the hospital:

Hospital policy strongly discourages patients and their relatives from bringing perishable food into the Hospital for consumption on the premises. Perishable foods are considered to be:

sweets
fruit
foods which can be safely stored at room temperature e.g ‘long-life products’
non alcoholic drinks.

In exceptional circumstances, perishables may be brought to patients with the permission of ward staff. In these circumstances due care and full responsibility must be taken by the patients or relatives.

Meals:

Breakfast:	7.30 am to	8.45 am
Lunch:	12.30 pm	1.15 pm
High Tea:	5.00 pm	6.30 pm

Menus enable you to choose your meals in advance. Hot beverages are served mid-morning and during the evening. Any special diets require authorisation from a dietitian. If you have any complaints about the meals please let us know immediately so that these can be investigated by the Catering Manager.

There is a 50% surcharge for visitors. A Coffee Bar and shop are situated on the Ground Floor

Opening Times:

Monday to	Friday	8.00 am to	9.00 pm
Saturday	9.00 am	7.00 pm
Sunday	9.00 am	6.00 pm

Delays:

It is impossible to accurately predict the pattern of workload upon staff in a major hospital with facilities spread over several acres. Delays in transport, tests and other services may be inevitable on occasion. You may find it helpful to bring some reading material with you to help pass the time if you do have to wait.

No Smoking:

In the interest of everyone’s health, safety and comfort, the Hospital operates a no-smoking policy. Smoking is not permitted inside the hospitals buildings including stair cases and in the entrances to any buildings.

Emergencies:

Occasionally fire alarm bells will sound during the course of testing or as the result of sensitive smoke detection equipment. You will be advised immediately if any action is necessary. Alarm bells will not be switched off until after authorisation is received from the Fire Brigade.

In the event of an emergency it is essential that you keep calm and follow instructions.

Hairdressing:

There are no hairdressing facilities, except hairdryers, within the Hospital. You may make your own arrangements with an outside hairdresser in consultation with the ward staff. You would be responsible for paying for this service.

Discharge:

On the day of discharge you may be asked to vacate your bed and wait in the day room. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated and will facilitate patients awaiting admission. Following your discharge, a letter will be sent to your GP detailing the treatment you have received and outlining any further care you may need. Please ensure that you obtain a medical certificate from your nurse before leaving your ward. Failure to do so may delay payment of any sickness benefit. Provision will be made for you to receive a supply of your newly prescribed medicines, if required, to continue your treatment. The Hospital Pharmacy will dispense an original pack of your newly prescribed medicines. If you have brought medicines into the hospital on admission, please ensure you receive them back from the ward prior to your discharge. Please allow sufficient time for this process when making your discharge arrangements. If you are returning to an address other than your usual address, you should inform your nurse who can then notify your GP or the community nursing service.

If you are worried about your discharge, please do not hesitate to raise any concerns you may have with your doctor or nurse. If you experience any difficulties once you have returned home, please contact the Hospital at any time for help or advice.
Specific advice will be given for each ward regarding follow up care and contact details.

Donations:

The Hospital relies upon gifts as a means of advancing our research into illnesses treated within the Hospital. Gifts from patients and their relatives also help in providing additional amenities for patients and staff which would not otherwise be available. Donations to the General Fund are especially appreciated as this enables flexibility in the use of such monies. Any donations you wish to make should be forwarded to the Chief Executive with cheques made payable to the Belfast City Hospital Trust. Gift Aid Forms are also available to increase the value of individual donations.

Other Gifts:

We strive to make the Hospital friendly and comfortable for our patients and visitors. We are always glad to receive gifts of suitable magazines in good condition for waiting areas etc. Gifts should be left with your nurse. An Arts Group is responsible for co-ordinating the display of works of art including various sculptures and murals. If you would like to offer any gifts please contact the Chief Executive’s office.

Belfast City Hospital Association:

Many of our patients retain a link with the Hospital through the Belfast City Hospital Association. The Association organises various events to keep members up-to-date with developments in the Hospital. Members also receive the City View magazine.

Membership details are available from ward staff or the Chief Executive’s office. We would be pleased to have your ongoing interest and support for the Hospital.

Complaints and Suggestions

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with the service you have received, please do not hesitate to speak to staff or our Patient Liaison & Complaints Manager:

A Floor
Belfast City Hospital
Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7AB
(028) 9032 9241 Ext 2975.

Management

The Trust is managed by a team of Clinical and Support Directors under the leadership of the Chief Executive, Mr Quentin Coey. The Trust Board is chaired by Mrs Joan Ruddock MBE. The Medical Director is Dr Ken Fullerton and the Director of Nursing is Mrs Eleanor Hayes.

Alternative formats

In an effort to make information as accessible as possible, this leaflet is also available in Braille and ethnic minority languages and on audiotape. For an alternative format please contact our:

Public Relations Manager:
A Floor
Belfast City Hospital
Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7AB
(028) 9026 3773

Our Patient Charter:

You have the right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
You have the right to be treated in a safe environment.
You are entitled to receive clear information which is clearly understood. Help is available for patients who have communication difficulties.
You are entitled to visits and support from your family and friends.
You are entitled to know the name and grade of each person providing you with a service.
You have a right to be involved in decisions concerning your care.
You have a right to refuse to take part in our teaching or research programmes.
You and your family are entitled to expect effective co-ordination between the Hospital, community health services and other caring agencies.
You and your family are welcome to comment on the care you receive. Complaints will be fully investigated and action taken where appropriate.

Transport services: