Discharge information, when a patient leaves HDU.
When your relative/friend has become well enough or stable enough they will be ready for discharge from the Neuro High Dependency Unit. This is usually a positive step in their recovery and moving to the ward means your relative/friend are showing signs of improvement.
Unfortunately sometimes patients condidtions can deteriorate and they become seriously unwell. When this happens patients are transfered to a critical care environment to receive intensive care.
How do we decide when a patient is ready for discharge?
It is the medical staff who decide when a patient is well enough to transfer onto a ward. Each morning a ward round is conducted in the Neuro High Dependency Unit. The team who make up the ward round include anaesthetists, registrars, senior house officers, physios, pharmatists and the nursing staff. Together the team will review each patient and discuss their future medical and care management. Ultimately the decision to transfer a patient out of HDU can only be made by a senior member of the medical staff.
Where will your relative/friend be discharged to?
In neurosciences there are 3 wards on G Floor of the Jubilee wing. Where your relative/friend is discharged to can depend on several factors; their illness, their type of admission and bed availablity. Patients who came into hospital acutely, usually after some form of trauma will be discharged to ward 23. Patients who came in electively for surgery will be discharged to ward 24. In some circumstances it may be necessary to discharge patients to either ward depending on bed availablity. This will not affect the care your relative/friend will receive. All the nursing staff are trained to care for both acute and non acute patients.
Neurology patients will be discharged to ward 21.
What you can expect on the wards.
The care on the wards as like the care in HDU is given to a very high standard. The number of beds on the wards is greater than the High Dependency Unit so you need to prepare yourself for some changes. Your relative/friend may be placed in a bay with three other patients of the same sex or they may be in a side room of their own. The nursing staff work in teams and your relative/friend will be allocated to a team on admission to the ward. On each shift you will be introduced to the nursing team who is caring for your relative/friend. It is likely each team will have one or two trained nurses and one or two healthcare assistants each shift.
Visiting your relative/friend on the wards.
The visiting times on the wards are the same as on the HDU. The wards also appreciate only two visitors to each bed space to adhere to fire and safety regulations and avoid excessive noise levels. If you wish to visit out of hours, this can only be arranged with a member of the ward staff.
Fresh flowers are allowed on the ward so feel free to bring them in for your relative/friend. Cards and photographs are also allowed but we need to be sensible around each bed space and not create clutter.
There is a visitors waiting area on the corridor outside the entrance to wards 23/24. If the room is locked speak to a member of staff.
As in the HDU it is IMPORTANT you wash your hands when entering and leaving the wards to minimize the spread of infection.
Remember, if you have any concerns or if there is anything you wish to discuss please speak to the nurse who is caring for your relative/friend or the nurse in charge.
