Live Life Team
Service Description – continuation
NHS provides various combinations of these accommodations. Currently around 97% of NHS trusts satisfy these guidelines. The balance 3% is waiting for buildings construction to get completed.
In maximum cases a single sex bed accommodation is given in the hospitals. If there are shortage of beds than mixed sex bed accommodation is given. In few cases women and men are given same ward with separate rooms or bays attached with toilet facility. This is ideal where the men and women having similar condition of health and are being looked after the same set of healthcare consultants.
Your diet in hospital
Assessment of your daily intake of nutritional food is monitored by the healthcare consultants as per dietary requirements.
What to take with you
Once admitted the following items mentioned below should be carried with you:
- Toiletries for personal use
- nightdress
- gown for dressing,
- slippers, at least one pair
- equipments like hearing aid or walking stick,
- medicines that you take daily
- current treatment details
Patient’s choice
Under this programme, patients have more options as to where and when are they receiving planned treatment in hospital. In case of medical emergency or accident, the ambulance team decides where you should be taken for treatment. With effect from April 2008 planned treatment can be referred for specialist treatment in any hospitals satisfying NHS standards. In case of a surgery or a specialist consultation, you can choose any hospital that is suitable for you. Generally your GP shall refer one to you.
Below given are the hospital lists you can select from:
Independent or private run hospitals having NHS contract.
Hospitals managed by NHS Foundation trusts or Acute trusts.
You also have the option of treating yourself at the local hospital. Using electronic booking system you can choose and book a convenient time with the specialist.
Does patient choice always apply,
GP at times may recommend a particular hospital. For example, in case you want to consult a specialist immediately. This can happen in case:
In case there is a chance of a cancer and your Gp wants to consult immediately. In such scenarios with 15 days you need to meet a specialist.
In case of chest pain, angina is suspected by your GP. In such scenarios, within 15 days you need to be admitted in a chest pain clinic.
Mental health and maternity care are the two types wherein one cannot select where one needs to be treated.
Waiting times
With the introduction of Patients Choice programme, waiting time is being reduced to minimum. Hospital waiting time differ depending on the admission type. Once referred by GP patients need not wait for more than 4 months for treatment in hospital. This might be in effect from end of 2008.
Waiting times for outpatients
Mostly all treatments the waiting time for appointments to outpatient should not exceed more than 2 months. At the clinic you need to be present at least 30 minutes within the given time. You need to see a specialist with in 15 days in case there are chances of angina or cancer
Waiting times for inpatients
In case you need to get admitted in the hospital as inpatient, the waiting period is less than 6 months.
Complaints
Complaints are accepted in case the service and care in any NHS hospitals are not up to mark. In such cases, you are requested to get in touch with the hospital you are not happy with and try to resolve the matter amicably and quickly. If the outcome is not satisfactory, you can request the Healthcare commission to assess the issue. You can also ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to review the issue.
