This leaflet is your guide to our unit and should help answer any questions you may have.
All our staff welcome you and we hope your stay here will be a positive one. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please ask and we will do all we can to help you.
If at anytime you wish to speak to anybody about worries or cares our staff have an open ear, please do not be afraid of asking.
We are here to make your stay as comfortable as possible and will collaborate with you, our carers and or relatives to ensure you are discharged to the appropriate place at the appropriate time.
The Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) is a 55 bedded unit who pride ourselves on providing the best care possible. Working with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to get you better, fit and ready for discharge.
If you have any comments or suggestions, we are happy to listen and take on board feedback, so please do not be hesitant to give it.
How we work with you
PLEASE NOTE: EAU is an assessment unit. The length of stay varies depending on the capacity of the hospital but should be no longer than 24-48 hours until moved on to another ward if needed.
Personal items and Hygiene
During your stay, we will try to encourage you to be as independent as you are usually at home. Our staff will assist you with activities that you need help with.
We do ask if possible that you have your own clothes on as much as possible on our unit whether that be nightwear or daytime clothes as this promotes independence. This includes footwear we encourage you to wear your own well-fitting slippers or footwear on our unit to prevent falling, if you do not have these things available to you, don’t worry we do have our own stock of non-slip socks on the unit.
We have washing facilities on the unit and try to promote you to use these if they are the best option for you. Our staff will help assist in washing and dressing and good personal and hand hygiene throughout the day.
Should you have any mobility issue we do ask that you bring in any adaptive sticks or walkers/wheelchairs if you can. Should you be unable to have these with you, we do have a ward stock available which can be given to you upon asking.
Remember participating in your own cares will help towards discharging you in a timely manner to the correct discharge location.
Food, Nutrition, and Mealtimes
Mealtimes are an important time of your day. We provide a wide range or meal options to suit your dietary requirements. Visitors will not be permitted at mealtimes unless agreed with the ward matron beforehand. We have protected mealtimes between 5pm and 6pm.
Throughout the day, our care support workers will come around and offer you the choice of food options for that day. If you have and dietary requirements, please inform our staff so it can be arranged.
We aim to serve you a hot drink with all meals which will be 3 times a day but if you would like any more, please ask us. On arrival to the ward, you will be offered a drink and something to eat if your care plan allows this. You will be provided with a jug of water which will be changed at various times of the day.
If you or your relative require any thickened fluids or different consistency of food, please let us know so we can provide this for you.
We try to promote independence with eating and drinking so if you have any special adaptive equipment at home to assist with feeding, please bring this in or have somebody bring this in if possible. If you or your relative need any assistance with eating and drinking, please let it be known on arrival.
Medications
Our nurses will administer your medications at set times of the day. We do ask that if you have your own medications at home, please bring them in or have somebody bring them in as we sometimes struggle with certain medications.
We do have pharmacists on the unit throughout most of the day who will carry out a medicines reconciliation to check which medications you have and which you need to be ordered.
We ask that if you or your relative are on any ‘controlled drug medications’ that you let us know so that we can lock them away in a secure place until you are discharged or moved to another ward. Alternatively, your family member or visitor could take them home with them if you don’t want them locked away.
If you feel like you can dispense your own regular medications, please speak to the doctors or nurses to make sure they have not been suspended or stopped whilst you are with us.
Please be aware that some medications may look different in hospital to what you have at home. If you have any queries, please ask your nurse.
Useful information
Appointments
If you have any planned appointments whilst you are an inpatient with us, please let us know and we can try and assist you in attending these.
Telephone contact
Our staff are happy to speak to members of family and NOK to update them on your care over the phone, if we have your permission. We can give certain information over the phone but not as in depth as we could face to face. Please remember, we have many patients on the unit so phoning people back may take a little longer than usual.
Our reception number is 0161 206 4908
Visiting times
We have 2 lots of visiting times on EAU 3pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm. We do have special conditions on which visiting times could be adjusted if patient’s conditions require. Please remember, there are many patients on this unit and somebody’s condition may not be like yours so may have different visiting time.
We do ask for 2 visitors at a time to one bed space and preferably the same 2 visitors throughout your stay. (This may vary depending on hospital policy)
Smoking
Salford Royal is a non-smoking hospital, so smoking is not permitted on the premises. This includes vaping and electronic cigarettes.
Complaints
If you have any issues with your care, please raise any concerns with the ward staff, who can support you with answering them.
Please write down any questions you may have or have any notes about your care.
Date of Review: March 2025
Date of Next Review: March 2027
Ref No: PI_M_1718 (Salford)