Contacting the Ward
Ward contact details can be found here.
All our wards operate a password system to enable family members who are unable to visit the ward regularly to receive updated information over the telephone.
We would appreciate it if one person could be nominated to telephone and pass information on as this allows the nursing staff more time to care for the patients, especially during the morning period. Please also be aware that, due to confidentiality laws, we are limited to how much information we can give over the telephone. If you are unable to visit, please speak to a member of staff on the ward reception desk to set up a ‘password’ for you for when you telephone.
Visiting
The visiting times for each ward can be found on the ward contact details here.
While a patient may have different visitors during the day, a maximum of two visitors are allowed at the patient’s bedside at any one time. There is no limit on how long a visitor may stay with a patient between these hours. There are exceptions in place for immediate family members or carers. Please ask the ward for more information.
To help with infection control issues we request:
- Visitors do not sit on beds
- No flowers
- All visitors must wash their hands or clean them with hand sanitiser before and after their visit. Visitors should not touch or handle wounds, dressings, medical equipment or anything else attached to a patient.
Valuables
If you have brought valuables with you, speak to a relative or friend to see if they can take them home and keep them safe until you are discharged from hospital. Any items you choose to keep with you during your hospital stay is entirely at your own risk. The Trust cannot accept liability for any items lost or damaged.
Transferring to another Ward
On occasions it may be necessary to move you to another ward or area. We follow a strict assessment process before moving any patients and always ensure both relatives and medical staff are informed about any transfer. We will always aim to move you to another ward during the day, but sometimes it may be necessary to move you during the night. We understand this is not always ideal and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.
For information on car parking at the Trust, please click here
The cash machine is free of charge and can be found outside the main entrance.
Please ask a member of staff if you would like a visit form one of the hospital chaplains. Gideon’s bibles are available in the dayroom on the ward. You can keep and take the bible home if you wish.
Ward rounds vary depending on the Consultant, but usually ward rounds usually take place in the morning, so medical updates are normally available in the afternoon.
If you are admitted between Friday and Sunday, you will be reviewed by a member of the on-call team. If you would like to speak or arrange a meeting with the doctor, please ask a member of staff. Your relative or carer can also be present if you wish.
We will make arrangements for you to leave hospital early on to make sure your discharge goes as smoothly as possible. Where it is appropriate we will talk to your family/carers about this.
When you are ready to leave, you will be moved to the discharge lounge to wait for any medications you need to take home and your transport. It is a relaxing environment with a television and magazines. Refreshments are also provided. Sometimes this happens overnight, if this happens you will be cared for in a bedded area and staff will help you to be ready to leave first thing the following morning.
Leaving hospital
Unless you require ambulance transport when leaving hospital, it is up to you to set up your own transport home. If you are worried about this please let us know as soon as possible. If you have an ambulance booked for you when you leave this will only have room to take two bags.
Hand washing is especially important before eating (snack and meals) and after using the toilet, bathroom or commode. Hand wipes ae available if you cannot get to a handwash basin.
If you have wound dressing, stitches, a catheter or other attachments try not to touch them any more than is necessary and always wash your hands afterwards. Bring only essential items with you so your bed area can be kept clean and tidy. If you have any concerns about cleanliness, please ask to speak to the senior member of ward staff or matron.
Visitors should follow the same hand hygiene guidance as listed for patients and use the and gel dispenser located at the entrance or wash their hands with soap and water. Ward staff won’t be offended if you ask them whether they have washed or cleansed their hands with an alcohol hand rub.
If you need assistance at a mealtime, either from staff or your family or carer, please speak to a member of staff. No other visitors are allowed at mealtimes.
Breakfast 7.30am (approx.)
Lunch 11.45am (approx.)
Evening meal 4.45pm (approx.)
If you experience any problems with your meal, please speak to a member of staff. You will be offered a choice of a hot meal or sandwiches and a dessert, with yoghurt or fruit.
Hot drinks, juice and water is available throughout the day. Mealtimes may vary for different wards.
Please bring with you any medication you are taking. This includes tablets, inhalers, creams, eye drops and anything you buy over the counter, such as vitamins or herbal remedies.
A member of pharmacy staff will visit you soon after your admission to look at your medicines and record details of your medication history. This is to make sure you have been prescribed your medicine correctly, it is being given correctly (for example, the correct dose at the correct time) and to check you have enough of your medicines. During your stay Pharmacy will supply any medicines you are running short of and any new medicines.
Your medication will be stored securely in your bedside medication locker.
Medication rounds begin at the following approximate times: 8.00am, 12.00 midday, 5.00pm and 10.00pm. If you have any concerns with these times, please speak to the nursing staff.
After the doctor/health care professional has prescribed your take home prescription, pharmacy will check the prescription and supply any required medicines. A member of pharmacy staff may visit you before you are discharged to explain how to take your medicines and answer your questions.
A Medicines Helpline is also available for you to phone after discharge if you have any more questions about your medicines.
Medicines Helpline: 01270 273221. Open Monday to Friday, 10.00am - 3.00pm
If you normally live in a country outside the United Kingdom, you may have to pay for your treatment. A member of the hospital staff will contact you if this might be the case, so we can decide whether and how much you need to pay. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is required for EU residents.
The Quiet protocol is aimed at reducing the unnecessary noise at night and helping patients to get a good night sleep. The protocol is active from 11.00pm till 6.00am and will involve staff ensuring lights are dimmed, bay doors and windows are closed, reducing controllable noise with pager, bleeps and telephones being switched to low setting. Ear plugs and face masks are available on request.
The Trust provides a variety of facilities within the hospital which patients and visitors are welcome to use. Please ask staff for opening times.
Café Express: Situated in the main entrance. Offering a wide selection of hot and cold ‘grab and go’ meals.
Bistro: Situated in the Treatment Centre. Offering a restaurant style plated meal service. We kindly request that patients with wounds, drips or catheters refrain from visiting the Treatment Centre.
Hospital shop: Situated in the main entrance. Sells snack, newspapers, toiletries etc.
Vending Machines: Situated in the following areas offering a variety of hot drinks and combi machines with cold drinks and snacks available: • Emergency Departments • GPOOH • Top floor crossroads • Outside Urology • Antenatal • Jet Library • Outpatients
During your stay in Hospital, your safety is important to us. To keep you safe, the Nursing and Therapy staff will assess if the use of trolley's, beds and bed rails is needed. Further information is available from the Nurse in Charge.
All sites that the Trust operate are Smoke Free
This rule applies to all staff, patients, visitors and contractors. This means that smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in any buildings or within the grounds of any site owned by the Trust, which includes the interior of cars while they are parked on Trust land.
Electronic cigarettes fire-safety advice
A number of incidents have been reported across the UK involving electronic cigarettes
(e-cigarettes) that have exploded or ignited, causing a fire, while they are recharging.
Patients and visitors must not recharge e-cigarettes in Mid Cheshire Hospitals premises as you are putting yourself and others at risk.
While you are in hospital – and after you have left - reusable and disposable e-cigarettes must not be used in any oxygen-rich environment or where oxygen therapy is being used/administered.
If you have any queries or concerns, please contact a member of staff.
Support to help you stop smoking:
Inpatients at Leighton Hospital have access to the CURE Project for free advice and support to stop smoking. They can be contacted on cure
Cheshire East residents can access support for tobacco addiction by calling 0808 1643 202 or visiting www.oneyoucheshireeast.org.
Cheshire West residents can access brio quit smoking service by calling 0300 777 0033 or visiting www.
A member of nursing will introduce themselves to you when you are admitted. Nurses change shift at 7.30am and 8.00pm, 7 days a week.
You can identify the nursing staff by the colour of their tunic as follows:
- Navy with lilac trim - Matron
- Navy/White Spot - Ward Manager
- Navy Blue - Ward Sister
- Royal Blue - Staff Nurse
- Pale Blue - Healthcare Assistant
- Cerise Pink - Housekeeper
- Burgundy - Ward Clerk
- Black - Early Discharge Facilitator
The Housekeeper will be happy to help with any enquiries, assistance with menus, linen, and ward cleanliness. If you experience any problems whilst on the ward, please ask to speak to the Housekeeper.
The Early Discharge Facilitator focuses on care needs for patients when they go home. If you feel you may need support on discharge when you leave hospital, please ask to see them.
Smoking
The Trust operates a Smoke Free Site, which applies to all staff, patients, visitors and contractors. This means that smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in the buildings or grounds of any site owned by the Trust. If you smoke and would like help and support to stop smoking, contact the Cure Team on 01270 826482 for free, friendly advice and support. Available Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm.
Zero Tolerance
The Trust follows the guidance of the Department of Health on ‘Zero Tolerance to violence against staff’. Persons acting in a threatening manner either verbally or physically will be reported to the police and further action may be taken.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones are permitted on the ward and in designated areas in the hospital. To protect patients and staff confidentiality, mobile phones must not be used to take photographs, videos or voice recordings on the ward or inside the hospital.
Photography and video/sound recording
It is important that all patients, visitors and staff feel safe whilst they are in hospital, on hospital grounds or whilst receiving treatment in the community. Patients and visitors are free to use their mobile phones, unless there are signs to say otherwise, whilst in hospital.
We appreciate that patients and visitors may want to take photographs and video recordings whilst in our care however to keep other patients, staff and visitors safe and respect their privacy we would ask that any such use is done with due consideration for others. This includes ensuring that:
- Any photos or videos taken whilst in hospital, or on hospital grounds or whilst receiving treatment in the community do not include other patients, visitors or staff, or their personal details, unless they have given you their consent
- Photos and recordings are not uploaded to social media
- Any photos or videos are deleted if asked to do so by a member of staff
Fire alarm
The fire alarm testing takes place every Tuesday at Leighton Hospital.
What to bring if you are staying overnight:
• Night clothes • Dressing gown • Slippers or suitable footwear
• Tissues • Any medication you are currently taking • Your Patient Passport (see below)
• Personal toiletries - including soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, face cloths, shampoo, comb, hairbrush etc.
Other items (where appropriate):
• Spectacles, contact lenses or personal aids • Denture pot and cleaner
• Razors • Shaving cream • Sanitary towels/tampons
• Special equipment such as a walking aid. Please mark items with your name and postcode
• Small amount of cash if you wish to buy anything from the shop, vending machines etc.
• Electrical items and chargers
Please note you are strongly advised not to bring valuables with you to hospital but any items or cash you do choose to keep with you during your hospital stay will be entirely at your own risk. The Trust cannot accept liability for any items lost or damaged.
What you should not bring with you to hospital:
• Aerosols • Valuables (see below) • E-cigarettes • Highly flammable substances e.g. lighter fluid
Patient Passport
The Trust has a ‘Patient Passport’ for people with learning disabilities, dementia and other vulnerable adults/children coming into Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and their carers to use, enabling important information to be passed on to staff. Please ask a member of staff for a copy or contact our Head of Nursing for Adult Safeguarding on 01270 278080. If you already have a Patient Passport, please make sure you bring it with you to the hospital. (see picture below). The passport can also be downloaded from the Trust’s website www.mcht.nhs.uk
Wheelchairs and portering assistance are available.
