We understand that there is a lot you want to know when coming to Kingston Hospital or Pamela Bryant Unit at Teddington Memorial Hospital as an inpatient.
This page gives an overview of key information about your stay.

You should bring (or ask someone else to bring):

  • clothes and toiletries
  • all your medications
  • day-to-day items that will make you comfortable, such as glasses, hearing aids, dentures and slippers
  • phone numbers of friends and family
  • things to do, such as books, puzzles, films or TV programmes downloaded onto your own device.

You may bring a mobile phone or other device and charger. However, the hospital cannot be responsible for these or any other valuable items. Please bear in mind that you will have limited storage space.

  • Large amounts of cash, jewellery or other valuables
  • Alcohol
  • Food
  • Large bags or suitcases

 

Be aware that thieves may come into the hospital. Anything you or your visitors bring into hospital is your responsibility. We recommend that you:

  • do not bring anything valuable into hospital. If you arrive in an emergency, send any valuables home as soon as possible.
  • make sure that any valuable items you bring in are covered by your home insurance for loss, theft and damage.

The hospital will only be responsible for property handed over to staff for safe keeping. These items are logged and signed for.

  • Cancel any regular deliveries and home help
  • Arrange for your pets to be cared for; speak to the RSPCA or the Cinnamon Trust
  • Tell family and friends where you are going
  • Remove nail polish and false nails

If you have any special needs, such as dietary requirements or washing or praying facilities, call the number on your admission letter.

What do you want us to call you?

What will help you get the best treatment and care?

For example, do you:

  • have a disability which means we need to change the way we do things?
  • need help communicating or need other adjustments?
  • need an interpreter?

Is there anything we need to know about your:

  • health?
  • allergies?
  • long-term conditions?

What will help you to prepare for discharge (leaving hospital), for example:

  • do you have support or care at home?
  • is your home ready for you?
  • Do you need an interpreter because English is not your first language?

Is there anyone we should include in conversations about your care, for example:

  • a family member
  • someone who supports you.

Medicines

It is important you tell us about all the medicines you usually take, including:

  • tablets and liquids
  • inhalers
  • creams and patches.

Also tell us about any you buy without a prescription, such as herbal or homeopathic medicines, vitamins and food supplements.

Any medicines you bring in can be stored in the locker by your bed. However, whilst you are in hospital, it is vital that you only take medicines given to you by the nurses.

If you have diabetes and are on insulin, talk to your nurse about whether you will continue to manage this yourself or not.

Call the number on your admissions letter if you cannot be at the hospital on the date agreed

If you tell us within seven working days of getting the letter, we can rearrange your appointment and give your bed to someone else. If you do not contact us, it could affect your position on the waiting list.

Call us if you think you have been exposed to an infection in the three days before your admission date. You should also tell us if you have a cough, cold, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Please see below some key information about your stay as an inpatient at the hospital.

You can use your phone in hospital but please be considerate to other patients. Also, remember that you are responsible for the safety of your phone. Wards also have a free phone for patients to use. Please ask any member of staff if you wish to use the patient phone.

Wi-Fi is free for patients and visitors. You can connect by choosing NHS Wi-Fi in your phone settings and enter your name and email address when prompted.

If you have any difficulties, call Wi Fi Spark on 0344 848 9555 option 1 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or email at support@wifispark.com.

Watching film, video and TV on NHS Wi-Fi can be unreliable. Subscription channels such as Amazon Prime and Netflix are blocked. You may prefer to download films or TV programmes before you arrive. Or ask someone to take your device away and do this for you.

You are welcome to listen to Kingston Hospital Radio which is available on the NHS Wi-Fi menu. Call or WhatsApp 07776 044744 for requests.

Eating and drinking well is important for your recovery.

Ask your nurse if you need help to order food or eat and drink.

Meals will be served three times a day, and you will be offered a snacks or sandwiches if you miss mealtimes. Ask if you are unsure.

Help with eating or drinking

You will be given food on a red tray and/or a jug with a red lid:

  • if you need help to eat or drink
  • if you need modified food or drink
  • if we need to check how much you eat or drink.

This is so staff know you need particular care. Visitors are welcome to stay during mealtimes to help you with eating and drinking.

Drinks

You will have your own water jug and cup by your bed. We also offer hot drinks and biscuits regularly. There is self-service trolley on each ward.

Food

You can choose meals from a daily menu, including Kosher, Halal and vegan food. Please tell us if you have any special food needs

You may bring in your own snacks and meals but most wards do not have a kitchen where you can store or heat food.

You may order takeaway food as long as you or your visitor collects the delivery at the hospital entrance. Staff cannot do this for you.

Restaurants and cafes at Kingston Hospital

You and your visitors are welcome in our restaurant and cafés. Bear in mind they do not all take cash.

  • Hospital Restaurant, Level 2, Kingston Surgical Centre (7am to 3pm every day)
  • Costa Coffee, main entrance (7am to 5am every day)
  • RVS Café, main outpatients (8am to 5pm each day)

We try to keep the noise and light to a minimum at night, but this is not always possible. Thank you for your understanding.

If you feel that staff are being loud without reason, ask to speak to the Nurse in Charge of your ward.

Ask the ward staff for ear plugs and an eye mask if you need them.

Preventing infection is vital in hospitals:

  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser, especially after using the toilet and before eating. Ask for help if you need it.
  • Tell us as soon as possible if you have any diarrhoea or vomiting.
  • Avoid touching any wounds, wound dressings, urinary catheters, intravenous (IV) drips or drains.

Being inactive for even a few days can cause health problems. It will affect your strength, mobility and independence. This can mean a longer stay in hospital and, for some, it can make it difficult to go home.

While you are here, try to keep to a routine. If you are able to, we encourage you to carry on doing what you usually do at home. This could be:

  • getting up and making a cup of tea or coffee from the drinks trolley (there is one on every ward)
  • having a wash and getting dressed into your own clothes
  • sitting in a chair for meals
  • doing some gentle exercises or walking around the hospital (if you can).

We would love to help you continue doing this. Ask a member of staff if you need help to keep moving safely. A physiotherapist may refer you to our team of volunteers who can help you with gentle movement exercises.

You can leave the ward if you are well enough, but check with your nurse first. Also let them know how long you expect to be away.  It is a good idea to take your phone (if you have one) in case we need to contact you.

We will make sure that you do not miss important conversations or treatment.

Whatever your culture, traditions, beliefs or life philosophy, our chaplains can provide:

  • a friendly conversation
  • confidential listening and support
  • prayers, sacraments, rites and ceremonies
  • contact with local community networks.

Call switchboard on 020 8546 7711 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and ask to speak to the duty Chaplain or email khft.chaplaincygeneral@nhs.net.

There is a multi-faith chapel located just outside the Pamela Bryant Ward at Teddington Memorial Hospital. Kingston Hospital chapel and male and female multi-faith prayer rooms are on Level 4, Esher Wing. These are open for quiet reflection or prayer both day and night. 

Ward pharmacists or pharmacy technicians are regularly on the wards. They work with doctors and nurses to make sure medicines are used in the best way.

  • You can get advice about any of your medicines whilst you are in hospital.
  • Tell your nurse if you would like to speak to one of the pharmacy team.

If you have diabetes, tell your doctor and nurse when you arrive on the ward. Together you can agree a plan to manage your diabetes while you are in hospital.

We will provide the following care.

  • Advice on choosing meals and snacks and making sure mealtimes are suitable.
  • Help to manage your medicines. This includes insulin and blood glucose monitoring, if appropriate.
  • A foot check to look out for any problems.
  • Support if you have concerns about managing your diabetes.
  • Information to help you manage your diabetes after you are discharged.

Insulin monitoring and control in hospital

If you want to carry on giving yourself insulin whilst in hospital, talk to your nurse or the hospital Diabetes team. They will assess whether this is safe.

  • you will need to sign a consent form.
  • nurses will give you a sharps container, a dose record chart, and a storage box for your insulin.

Doing this yourself can improve the timing of doses and lead to better control of your condition. However, treatment (for example, an operation or certain medicines) can make it more difficult to control your blood glucose levels.

We need to make sure that you are well enough to look after yourself.

You are welcome to continue to monitor your blood glucose using your usual method. However, we will also check with a hospital machine.

There are rooms around the hospital for anyone visiting for a long period who needs a break or a quiet space. Ask the ward staff for the nearest quiet room.

Carer’s Passport

If you want to help with essential care or support for someone while they are staying in hospital, you may need to visit outside usual visiting hours.

Discuss this with the Nurse in Charge. They may give you a Carer’s Passport.This allows you to come into the ward without having to explain your caring role each time you visit.

Carers’ Clinical Liaison Service

The Carers’ Clinical Liaison Service supports carers whilst the person they care for is in hospital. You are a carer if your family member or friend and cannot cope without your care and support.

Our service focuses on your concerns about your own health and wellbeing as a carer. We can explain what help and support is available locally. We can also refer you to other services. Ask a member of staff if you want to speak to our team.

For more information look on our Carers webpage.

Dementia support

Being in hospital is difficult for anyone with dementia. Likes, dislikes and communication needs can be listed in an ‘Important Things About Me’ card.

Keep this by the bed and it will help our staff to provide the best care.

The Dementia and Delirium Team supports patients and carers. Call 07823 402961, dial 6196 from a ward phone, or email khft.forgetmenot@nhs.net.

Learning disabilities and/or autism

The Learning Disabilities Liaison Service supports adults with a learning disability and/or autism and their families and carers. They help you to make decisions, arrange reasonable adjustments, and access information.

Call 020 8934 6895 from a ward phone or email khft.learningdisabilityteam@nhs.net (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

Eye problems

If you have vision problems, such as sight loss, contact our Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) for advice and support.

Call 07864 936720 or email khft.kingstoneclo@nhs.net or ask any member of staff to refer you (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

End of life care

The palliative care team helps to care for patients at the end of their life and those with life-limiting conditions who are not dying. They focus on maximising the quality of life of the patient and their family.

Your doctor or nurse will contact the Palliative Care team if they think you will benefit from their support. You can ask about this yourself if you think the Palliative Care team could help.

All staff are happy to answer your questions. Tell a nurse straight away if you are in pain or feel particularly unwell.

At all times there will be a Nurse in Charge of your ward. Their name should be on the ward notice board and updated for every shift.

Speak to the Nurse in Charge if you have any concerns while in hospital. The best way to resolve a problem is usually to tell someone there and then.

A doctor will usually visit you once a day on weekdays. This is usually during a ‘ward round’. This is when the team will talk with you about how you are feeling and the next steps in your care.

Details of the senior nurse and matron who manage the ward are displayed near the ward entrance.

Speak to your nurses and doctors if you have any questions or concerns.

If you are still worried that your own condition, or that of your relative or friend, is getting worse, ring Call 4 Concern (C4C).

This service is an extension of our intensive care team and they can give you immediate advice or medical help if you think your concerns have not been addressed.

Call C4C (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) on:

Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers advice and responds to the concerns of patients, families, carers or friends.

We can explain how to make a formal complaint, if you wish to do this.

We are also happy to record and share positive feedback.

The hospital uses feedback to improve our services. You can give quick anonymous feedback at any time through the Friends and Family Test.

Many members of staff and volunteers will help to look after you. Ward staff work together as a ‘multidisciplinary team’ (MDT).

Everyone should introduce themselves to you with their name and role. You are always welcome to ask ‘who are you and what do you do?’.

There is more information about our staff teams at Kingston in our patient handbook.

Even at the beginning of your hospital stay, it’s good to plan ahead so that you can get home as soon as you are well enough.

Kingston Hospital Homeward Bound films

We’ve produced the following animated films in collaboration with patients, staff and students to give you information about what you can do to help you leave hospital sooner.

If you’re an inpatient at Kingston Hospital, you can find out more in the patient handbook.

You may feel safer in hospital. However, if you no longer need hospital treatment, this is not the best place for you. Longer stays put you at risk of infection and other health risks, as well as loss of mobility and independence. You will recover more quickly after you leave hospital.

From the start of your hospital stay, we work with you to plan how and when you will leave hospital (discharge). You (and a family member or friend who may be helping you) are key members of the planning team.

A few people cannot go home. This might be because, in the short term, they need help or easy access to a bathroom.

Some people need a lot of care and support and the best place for this is in a community hospital or home.

However, you do not have a right to stay in hospital if you no longer need hospital care. If you need an assessment or help from local health and social care teams after you leave, we will make sure they know the next steps for your care and treatment.

Once you are home, social care teams will work with you to make decisions about your longer-term health and care needs. 

If you need care after being in hospital or are unable to return home, the Discharge Team will work with community health and social care to arrange this for you.

We aim to get you to the right place as quickly as possible. If your preferred choice of placement or package is not available, we help to find a suitable alternative.

You, your family or your carer (if you have one) should tell your nurse as soon as possible if you think you will need help when you get home.

Call the Discharge Team on 020 8934 3441.

Discharge lounge at Kingston Hospital

You may be taken to a discharge lounge if you need to wait for your medicines or for someone to collect you on the day of your discharge.

Nursing staff are there to look after you. You will be offered meals, snacks and drinks.

All patients need to arrange their own transport home. This could be with friends or family, a carer, public transport or taxi.

Start to plan how you will get home as soon as discussions begin about leaving hospital.

Ambulance transport can only be provided for patients who have a medical need and who cannot travel by any other means. Most patients do not need to travel by ambulance.

Tell your nurse if you need advice about getting home.

Our website has details of schemes that can help with travel costs. Being unable or unwilling to pay for your own transport is not a valid reason for needing an ambulance. If you are eligible for hospital transport and are travelling home by ambulance, you may need to wait in our Patient Transport Waiting Room on your day of discharge.

It is important you have a copy of your discharge summary and your medicines before you leave hospital. The discharge summary sets out:

  • the care and treatment you have had
  • medicines you are taking home
  • next steps in your care and treatment, if any.

We will send your discharge summary directly to your GP. If you are going to a different hospital or care home, we will send them a copy too.

We will give you up to two weeks’ supply of medicines to take home with you unless you already have a supply at home. You will also be given a letter to your GP so that they can arrange a repeat prescription.

Some GPs need up to 2 days’ notice to arrange repeat prescriptions.

We want you to be certain before you leave that you understand what medicines you should take at home and how to take them safely. If you are unsure, ask a nurse before you leave. Once you get home, you can also contact the Medicines Information Helpline (see below).

We will make sure you take home any medicines you brought in with you, if you still need to take them.

Medicines Information Helpline

Once you have left hospital, you can contact our Medicines Information Helpline with any concerns, queries or worries about your medicines.

Call 020 8934 2092 (Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 5pm).