Before you come in You should cancel or rearrange any services or deliveries you get at home (for example, meals on wheels, milk, newspapers) If you have a cold or any infection, check with your GP to see whether you are fit to come into hospital. If you are advised not to come into hospital, please ring 028 9090 2000 and speak to the secretary of the consultant named on your letter. If possible, you should arrange for a friend or relative to bring you to the hospital, and stay with you until you are settled in the ward.

Fasting Your admission letter will tell you whether you need to fast (avoid eating and drinking), and if so, for how long.

What to bring with you You should bring the following items with you (where appropriate): Slippers Dressing gown Towels Personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc) Books, magazines, knitting, etc to help you pass the time Small change in case you want to buy items from the hospital shop or make telephone calls

What to leave at home Valuable items (such as jewellery) Large amounts of money

Your medicines It is very important that you tell the doctor or ward manager about any medicines you are taking, and bring them with you to the hospital if possible. If you have a special card which gives details of any current treatment, for example a steroid or warfarin card, please bring this into hospital with you and show it to the doctor, nurse in charge or pharmacist.

When you arrive If you are coming to the Withers Orthopaedic Centre (Wards 1-6), you should go to Withers reception, at the main entrance to the Withers building. If you are coming to Meadowlands (Wards 1, 2 or 3) or Rheumatology (Wards 4 or 5), you should go directly to the ward named in your appointment letter. If you arrive before 9.00am or after 4.30pm, you should go directly to the ward named in your appointment letter.

Consent to treatment Before you come into hospital you will receive information on giving informed consent to treatment. The booklet "Consent - it's up to you" is also available to help you make that decision. If you are having surgery you will be asked to give written consent to treatment before or during your stay in hospital. If you have any concerns about consent to treatment, or if you feel you do not have enough information to give informed consent, please ask any member of nursing or medical staff. If you are under 16 years of age, you will need to have a parent or guardian with you when you are admitted. This is because written consent is needed for anaesthesia, surgery or specialised examinations, and if you are under 16 we must ask your parent or guardian for this consent.

Smoking Musgrave Park Hospital has an "Action on Smoking" policy. Patients should try to give up smoking before coming into hospital. Visitors are not allowed to smoke anywhere on hospital grounds.