Please note:
Preparing for your hospital stay
Coming into hospital can be an anxious time for anyone but there are a few ways to prepare and all of our staff will work hard to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
If you can, it is good to bring a relative or friend with you when you first come into hospital. An adult must always accompany patients under 16 years of age.
If you need help with getting to hospital for medical reasons, you will need to contact South Central Ambulance Non-Emergency Transport Service who will be able to advise you. Their service is different dependant on your eligibility and where you live.
If you are able to, please let us know as soon as possible about any special needs you have such as diet, disability, religious requirements, so that we can ensure all relevant support services are available to you. More information can be found on the help with your visit page.
Sometimes patients find they cannot attend their appointment at short notice, please do get in touch with us to let us know you are not coming in and we can cancel any support services set up for you such as patient transport.
When you arrive at hospital, you will need to go to the location outlined in the letter sent to you for your appointment and the staff will check you in and deal with all your paperwork.
Once you are in hospital, your visitors will be welcome during the appropriate visiting times. Some bed have access to bedside TV and telephone services (charges may apply), and advice on the use of mobile phones will be given by our staff, depending where you are in the hospital. You will also be given a menu card to choose your meals from.
What to bring with you
When coming into hospital we need you to bring in any medication and tablets you are or have been taking so that the staff can see them. If you have a special card, eg steroid, anticoagulant, diabetic, you need to bring that too.
We would also ask that you bring in any walking aid that you normally use at home, such as a walking frame or stick.
We advise patients to bring their own personal toiletries, towel, dressing gown, nightclothes and slippers, and coins to use in the phones and vending machines. The hospital provides some storage by your bed but we advise you not to bring in valuables if you can avoid it.
While you are in hospital
During your stay you will quickly get used to the routine of the hospital. Before each mealtime you may hear a bell sound. This is to remind staff to help our patients get prepared to receive their meal.
If you are an inpatient at Frimley Park you may notice that each Thursday morning the fire alarms are tested. This usually takes place between 8am and 9am and is nothing to worry about.
Preparing to go home
Once our staff have completed all of the details to enable you to go home, there are a number of things to bear in mind to make sure you are not delayed.
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Please arrange transport to get home
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You may be asked to wait in the patient’s lounge rather than on the ward
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Staff will give you a hospital discharge letter
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Staff will give you your supply of medication
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You will be advised if you need to make any follow-up appointments