General Medical Wards - Welcome to Ward M3

Our unit is a 17 bedded ward that treats and cares for patients with dermatology, rheumatology, and general medical conditions.

M3 is a dementia friendly ward, the ward has a multidisciplinary approach to care and treatment working together to deliver high quality care to all our patients. This leaflet aims to help you and your family understand more about your stay on Ward M3 at the Salford Royal Hospital. It will explain ward routines and how your care will be planned from admission to discharge. This leaflet also contains useful information for your family, friends, and carers.
Our team is supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team:

Doctors - In our unit we have Consultants, Registrars and Junior Doctors.

Nursing team - Our nurses are specially trained and have experience in caring for patients with medical disorders. They can safely administer medications and support with investigations.

Dermatology Nurse Specialists - As specialists, the Dermatology Specialist Nurses assess complex needs, give advice to other healthcare professionals, support people with cancer to understand their treatment options, and provide emotional and psychological support.

Ward clerks - They have clerical and administrative responsibilities, such as checking patients in and out, filing patient paperwork, answering the phone, and coordinating patients’ assignments with nurses and doctors.

Student nurses, cadets, and medical students - During your stay in hospital, procedures may be carried out by students and other healthcare professionals under supervision, as part of a recognised teaching/development programme. You do not have to take part if you do not want to and your treatment will not be affected in any way. Please let your nurse or doctor know.

Housekeeper - Our housekeeper staff will offer you breakfast, lunch and drinks, will order your meals and will ensure the ward looks clean and tidy.

Domestics - Provide a clean environment for our service users and staff, providing a high quality service and high standards of cleanliness, ensuring compliance with infection control procedures.

The Speech and Language Therapy team (SALT) - SALT assesses, diagnoses and help patients manage any communication, swallowing or voice disorder that is acquired in adulthood. Their aim is to maximise the potential of patients requiring the service to improve or maintain their communication and/or swallowing by promoting independence.

Dietitians - They will see patients who have lost weight, have a poor appetite, find eating and drinking difficult or need a feeding tube to support their nutrition.

Physiotherapists - see patients who need help with improving their movement and core strength during their stay on the ward or for help with planning for discharge.

Occupational therapists - They will see patients who need support to carry out everyday activities or specialised equipment/ adaptions to support them at home.

Pharmacists – They review patients’ medications, ensure that drugs are dispensed and administered safely, provide advice on drug therapy and its effects, and assist in improving patient care through drug therapy.

Discharge team - The Discharge Team will assist in planning safe discharges of those patients who will need ongoing support in the community or require a community placement on discharge.
 
Social workers - They will see patients who need ongoing support after discharge. This can include help with ensuring you have the right level of care in place before you go home, talking to you about benefits, grant entitlements or exploring other ways to help you and your family manage.

Palliative care team - They are a specialist team providing expert symptom control advice and emotional support to patients and their families at the end of life. The team work very closely with their colleagues in the community and so can help put patients and their families in touch with the community palliative care teams and local hospices where needed.

Spiritual Care Team

The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Centre is open 24 hours a day and welcomes patients, staff and visitors of all beliefs and philosophies. The Centre can be found on Level 3, Hope Building and offers:

• The Oasis Room – a quiet space for reflection and relaxation
• The Chapel – Christian space and resources
• Shabbos Room – Jewish space and resources
• Prayer Room – Muslim space and resources including ablution facilities
• Chaplain's office
• Accessible bathroom

Translation and Interpretation Service

The Interpretation & Translation Service provides verbal and written language interpretation services for over 82 languages spoken within the geographical area of the Trust. They also provide The British Sign Language for patients with sensory difficulties, braille or large text documents for visually impaired patients.

Uniforms

Below are some pictures of uniforms worn by our staff on the ward:

 

Facilities

Ward M3 has 4 bays; with 3 beds and 5 side rooms. All the bays have bathroom facilities including shower, sink and toilet for patients use only and individual digital televisions. One of the side rooms has bathroom facilities and is utilised for dermatology patients.

Side rooms are normally used to nurse patients with specific clinical needs. For example, they may have an infection that could spread if they were nursed on the main ward or they may be at a higher risk of developing infections. Patients’ clinical conditions can change daily and patients are moved in and out of side rooms into the bays to accommodate this. We aim to provide same-sex accommodation on our ward, so that you only share sleeping bays, washing and toilet facilities with members of your own sex.
 
We are a dementia friendly ward, and you will see signs and coloured handrails in our toilets, clocks visible from your bed area, and a cognitive impairment drawer with games, puzzles, magazines in the resources area. If there is anything specific you require for your relative please let the nursing staff know.

Ward round times

Our Consultants will carry out their routine ward rounds daily. On days when there is no Consultant ward round you will be seen by a Registrar or another member of the treating team.

During the weekend and overnight it is the on-call Medical team that care for our ward patients. They will not see every patient during the weekend so please do not worry if there has not been a ward round on these days.

Patients who are told about their care are more likely to get home on time. We advise you to ask our team the following questions:

1. What is the matter with me? What are you considering?
2. What is going to happen today? Is anything planned for tomorrow?
3. What needs to happen to get me home?
4. When am I going home? Is everything going to plan?

What can you bring to our ward

We would advise you to bring your “This is me”, “Traffic light” or “My Health Passport” leaflets if you have one, your GP repeat prescription list, toiletries, any sanitary products you use, comfortable clothing to wear, non-slip shoes, your glasses and hearing aids.

We’re unable to take care of your personal laundry, so ask a relative or friend to bring you enough clean items of clothing. A locker and a property box is provided at bedside to store your belongings, but space is limited so only bring in essential items that you really need. Patients bring valuables at their own risk. We recommend that patients only bring a small amount of money in loose change. The Trust cannot accept responsibility for the loss of any valuables/ property not given to staff for safe keeping. Don’t bring large sums of money or valuable items such as jewellery into hospital. Flowers are not allowed into our hospitals for a number of reasons.

Your friends and family are encouraged to send you flowers once you’re back at home, or to bring in an alternative gift such as a book, magazine or fresh fruit.

Visitors

Our visiting time is 1pm - 3pm and 6pm - 8pm. For unwell, cognitively impaired, and young adult (age 16-18) patients we allow open visiting time to give relatives, friends, and carers the chance to spend more time with their loved one at a time that suits them and have an active role in their care while they are in hospital. We also consider other circumstances for open visiting time on request, please ask ward M3 senior team to discuss this.

We ask that you have only two visitors at a time as large groups can disturb other patients. Children are welcome to visit only in exceptional circumstances on discussion with M3 senior nursing team, but any child under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult visitor. Visitors shouldn’t sit on your bed.

In order to prevent the spread of infection and illness, visitors who have been unwell with symptoms of cough, cold, fever, diarrhoea and/or vomiting should not come into the hospital until they have been free of symptoms. In case of diarrhoea and vomiting, visitors can come to the unit after 72 hours symptoms free.
 
All visitors should wash their hands when they arrive and leave the unit.

Your relatives can phone the ward anytime for an update on your progress. It’s a good idea to nominate one family member to be the main point of contact. Our ward contact number is 0161 206 4012.

Meal times

We operate a protected meal time policy. This is to ensure that our patients have an uninterrupted time when they can eat their food in peace and that nursing staff are on hand to help if required.

Visitors are asked not to visit during these times unless they are there to help or encourage patients to eat. Mealtimes are at:

• Breakfast: 7:30am - 8:45am
• Lunch: 12noon - 1pm
• Tea: 5pm - 6pm

We take nutrition very seriously. It is a paramount to recovery and is a top priority for all our staff involved in your care.

Patients who need help with eating or are experiencing a loss of weight and appetite will be given a red tray. The red tray highlights to the nursing staff that patients need extra help and food intake recorded.

We also use different coloured lids for patient water jugs. This identifies when the water in the jugs has been refreshed. Special diets are also available for religious and cultural reasons, as follows:

• Halal prepared in strict halal conditions.
• Kosher prepared under the supervision of the Manchester and London Beth Din and is Kedassia approved. 
• Afro-Caribbean

Snacks are also available 24 hours upon request. If you are allergic to any foods or require any special diet, please ask one of our staff.

Restaurants/Cafés

A number of cafés are located on the hospital site, providing hot and cold selections throughout the day:

• Hope Cafe (Hope Building), open Monday to Friday 7.30am - 8pm and Saturday-Sunday 8am - 8pm
• Ground coffee pod (Main Entrance, Hope Building) open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
• Plaza Restaurant (Main Entrance, Hope Building) open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
• Ground Café (Turnberg Building), open Monday to Friday 8am - 2pm
• RVS Café (Ladywell Building), open Monday to Friday 07:45am - 07:45 and Saturday, 9am - 2.45pm
• The Christie Café (The Christie at Salford Royal) open Monday to Friday 8am - 3.30pm

Additionally, a number of 24-hour vending machines are situated throughout the hospital.

Shops

Level one of the Hope Building houses a number of shops and retail units including a pharmacy, a newsagent and a food store. Additionally, the WRVS operate a shop located on the corridor between the Ladywell and Brooke buildings. Open Monday to Friday, 09:00-15:00, the shop stocks a selection of newspapers, magazines, toiletries, confectionary and cards.

Cashpoint

24-hour cashpoint facilities are located in Hope Building, Level one.

Consenting to treatment

We want to make sure that you fully understand your condition and the different treatment options available to you. Before you receive any treatment, your doctor will explain your treatment options, including the benefits, risks and any alternatives. You will be given time to think about the information provided and supporting information such as informative leaflets.

You may be asked to sign a consent form for your treatment. You can refuse treatment at any time, including after you have signed a consent form. If you are unsure, then please ask us for further clarification.

Sleeping

Hospitals can sometimes be noisy at night. We have ear plugs and eye masks available if you have difficulty sleeping. Please ask the nurse when receiving night medication.

Smoking

Strictly no smoking is allowed in either our buildings or grounds, including car parks. Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of ill health and premature death in the UK. As an organisation, we aim to provide a smoke free environment and are committed to protecting staff, patients and visitors against the effects of secondary smoke.

As part of our nursing assessment, all patients admitted to our hospital are asked if they smoke and if they have considered quitting. Support and advice are available to patients who would like help to quit smoking. Leaflets are available which set out the range of support available and these will be given to patients by our nursing staff.

Car parking

Patient and Visitor parking at Salford Royal is located on the main hospital site offering spaces on the Central car park and further spaces on the North car park. Both car parks are currently operated on a pay on exit system using barriers.

Patient and Visitor Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points are located at the Central car park and are provided by Podpoint. In these particular spaces, only electric or hybrid vehicles are permitted to park and payment must be made via the ticket/ pay on exit system. The duration of stay in these spaces is restricted to a maximum 4 hour parking period, with no return within 12 hours. Vehicles must be using the charging facility when parked. Charges for electricity used, if made, and instructions will be detailed/ displayed as part of the charging unit.

Additional patient and visitor parking is available on the Stott Lane (East Car Park) which is managed by Salford City Council using separate payment systems and charge levels set by them.

Post

If you have any mail that requires posting, please ask a member of the ward staff. Cards and letters can be sent to you by clearly stating:

Ward M3 Salford Royal Hospital, 4th level Brooke Building, Stott Lane, Salford Greater Manchester, M6 8HD.

Falls, we all have a role to play

You will be given our “Falls Prevention” leaflet on admission to our ward. As a patient you can help reduce the risk of falling by:

• Making sure you have the call bell near you when getting into bed
• Telling the nurses that you may need help if you’re anxious about walking
• Being very careful when getting in and out of bed and standing up
• Walking slowly around the ward
• Wearing well-fitting shoes or slippers and clothing that will not make you trip
• Using your walking aid, hearing aid and glasses if you have them

Preventing pressure ulcers

You will also be given our “Pressure Ulcer Prevention” leaflet on admission to our ward. A pressure ulcer is an area of damage to the skin and underlying tissue and is more likely to occur if you have to stay in bed, in a chair or in a wheelchair for long periods of time.

Your risk of developing pressure damage will be assessed when you come into hospital and your nurse will come to you to prompt or assist you in changing your position. One of the best ways to prevent a pressure ulcer is to reduce or relieve pressure on the areas at risk by moving around and changing position as much as possible.

Preventing deep vein thrombosis

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a clot which has formed in a deep vein, usually in the leg. It most commonly starts in the calf veins but can extend up into the thigh veins. It can also occur in deep veins in other parts of the body.

Just being unwell and in hospital whether you are having surgery or not increases your chances of a DVT. We advise you to:

• Avoid prolonged periods of immobility such as sitting in a chair for many hours
• Get up and walk around now and then when sitting for long periods
• Take regular exercise, for example a regular walk for 30 minutes a day
• When going on long trips on planes, trains or in the car, get up and walk around every so often and perform calf exercises when sitting

Our Doctors will complete your venous thromboembolism assessment on admission and will advise you as to which treatment would be best suit you and your medical needs.

NAAS (The Nursing Assessment and Accreditation System)

NAAS is an established, comprehensive framework which provides assurance that the care we deliver across the Northern Care Alliance is of a standard that we would expect for ourselves. The NAAS reviews 14 key domains in relation to care delivery, the environment and ward leadership. Following an assessment, each clinical area is awarded a R.A.G. (red, amber, green) rating based on attainment.

If you would like to understand further detail related to the ward NAAS, please ask a member of staff.

Leaving the hospital

We’ll begin to talk to you about leaving the hospital (being discharged) on admission to our unit so that we can help prepare you. Once we’ve agreed your discharge date with you, you’ll need to talk to your family, friends, or carers to make arrangements for your return home. If you feel you may require extra help with things such as washing and dressing or shopping when you go home, tell your nursing staff as soon you can.

On the day, once your doctor has told you that you are able to go home, there are a number of things that need to happen, and it may take some time for all of these to be completed. To ensure we have beds available for other patients who may need them, we will aim for you to be discharged before lunchtime.

Please make sure you take all your belongings with you, as well as any patient information leaflets, medicines and dressings you may need. You should also be given details of who to contact if you have any queries, along with a copy of your discharge summary which will include a list of medicines you need to take at home. You should arrange for a friend or family member to collect you from the hospital. If your medical condition means that you need to be transported by ambulance your nurse will arrange it for you.

Once you are ready to go home, you may be transferred to the discharge lounge whilst you wait for your medications to go home with and/or transport.

Moving to a different hospital

If your condition is stable but you need a little more time to recover, you may be transferred to a different hospital or rehabilitation centre best suited to your needs. We’ll make every effort to ensure you and your family are involved in this decision, and will work with your GP, community staff and others to ensure you continue to receive the best possible care.

Moving to residential care

We can help you find residential care if you’re unable to return to your own home. Our hospital discharge team can provide a list of care homes and other helpful information and will work with you and your family to consider the best options. Talk to your nurse as soon as possible if you feel unable to return to your own home.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

PALS are a confidential service that provides help, advice and information for patients, families, and carers. They help our patients and families to find answers to questions or concerns regarding their care or treatment, to resolve concerns quickly by liaising with staff and managers and refer our patients and carers onto external agencies or specialist advocacy services, where this is appropriate.

PALS cannot provide advocacy, counselling, diagnosis, or medical advice. However, they can speak on your behalf to the people that can provide these services. PALS can contact clinical staff and departments to obtain information or investigate your concerns and then relay this information back to you verbally. There are PALS leaflets available on the ward, please ask one of our nurses if you require any.

You can contact PALS on 0161 778 5665 between 09.30 hours and 16.30 hours Monday to Friday or via email on pals@nca.nhs.uk

Complaints

The Trust has an open and honest approach in dealing with any concerns or if something has gone wrong. Clinical staff are always keen to resolve with any aspect of your care or your relative’s care, please speak to your consultant, ward manager, Lead Nurse and they will be pleased to help you resolve any issues.

If your concern cannot be dealt with locally, you can complain formally to the Trust by emailing office.complaints@nca.nhs.ukor by calling the office on 0161 604 1141.

Zero Tolerance Policy

We are committed to the well-being and safety of our patients and of our staff. Please treat other patients and staff with the courtesy and respect that you expect to receive. Verbal abuse, harassment and physical violence are unacceptable and will lead to prosecutions.

Tell us what you think about your stay

Feedback is of high importance to us and we value the opportunity to hear your thoughts regarding your stay! To help us improve our service we encourage patients and carers to complete a ‘Friends & Family Test’ survey. You can complete a paper card, or answer a text message that you will receive on discharge. The comments our patients give get reviewed on a monthly basis and are a valuable way of getting feedback on how we are doing and what we could improve on.