Other hospital information

Things you need to take into hospital

This booklet
Pregnancy Health Record
Light day clothes
Nightdresses (at least 2)
Dressing gown
Slippers
Panties told or disposable)
Toiletries
Bath towels
Bras (at least 2)
Breast pads
Sanitary pads
Paper tissues
Cotton wool
Any tablets or medicines you normally take (prescribed by a doctor)
Small change for telephone and newspapers
Baby clothes
Disposable nappies
Pen or pencil

We encourage you to wear light day clothes.

Money and valuables

We advise you to leave your valuables at home as we cannot accept the responsibility for loss or damage. Money is needed only for the telephone, newspapers and the trolley shop.

Telephones

Payphones are situated outside the Delivery Suite and in the sitting room on Ward F11. There are trolley payphones available for any mother to use who cannot walk to the telephones. A change machine is available in the Central Delivery Suite entrance.

Mothers are discouraged from making or receiving calls on the main ward, as these telephones are for staff use only. Please ask friends and relatives not to ring the wards. Information will be given only to your partner/next of kin. Mobile phones must not be used within hospital premises as they interfere with electrical medical equipment.

Trolley shop, newspapers, post box

The Voluntary Services bring a trolley round the wards. Confectionery, stationery and toiletry items are available from this. Newspapers and magazines are on sale daily and these are also delivered to the ward. A hospital library trolley service is available if required. Please ask the ward staff for further details.

There is a shop situated in the main entrance which sells newspapers, stamps, flowers, provisions etc. A postbox is also situated in the main entrance area of the hospital.

Religion

There is a chapel on the ground floor of the hospital. The Church of England chaplain is available within the hospital at all times. Chaplains representing other denominations are also available and can visit at your request.

Teaching of staff

This plays an important part in the work of this hospital. Suffolk College trains student midwives, who work under the supervision of qualified midwives. Student nurses, male and female, work in the Maternity Unit for a few weeks during general nursing training assisting in basic provision of care, and again are under the supervision of qualified midwives.

Medical students occasionally assist the midwives and Consultant Obstetricians in your care. We hope you will feel happy to co-operate in this essential work but if you feel unable to do so, please speak to your midwife and your wishes will be respected. If you have any helpful suggestions to make which you feel would benefit others, please tell the midwife in charge or write to the Head of Midwifery.

Social worker

if you need help with family or social problems and would like to see a social worker, a midwife will arrange this for you.

Ward F11

All pregnant and newly delivered mothers and babies are cared for on this ward. You will be admitted to your appropriate team area. Please inform your family and friends of your team colour.

The ward is divided into bays of four to five beds with some single rooms. Mothers are encouraged to keep their babies with them at all times.

A dining area in each bay enables meals to be taken in your bay. A sitting room is available with TV, toaster, fridge, microwave oven and payphone. Videos are available on parentcraft and related subjects. Individual televisions may be hired if required.

Security

We want to ensure that you and your baby are as safe as possible, and for this reason we all have to comply with security systems and protocols.

A sophisticated security system is in operation which restricts access to the ward, SCBU and Delivery Suite. Please inform your relatives and friends of the visiting times as visitors are not admitted to the ward except at visiting times. All staff wear identity badges with photographs. Staff who handle babies have pink identity badges.

DO NOT GIVE YOUR BABY TO ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW

Meals

A menu card will be given to you before each meal from which you can make your choice. Drinks are provided with all meals, and at intervals during the day and evening. If you are on a special diet a member of the Catering Department will help you to make your choice. We always have vegetarian dishes and can provide kosher meals. An all day service of snacks is also available.

Meals are served at the following times:

Breakfast:  7.30am - 8.30am
Lunch: 11.45am - 12.45pm
Supper: 5.30pm - 6.30pm

Single rooms

Single rooms are available with television and a telephone for incoming calls. There is a daily charge for the use of these rooms and further information is available on request from hospital and community midwives. If there is a medical reason for a woman to occupy a single room, she will be given priority and no charge will be made.

Visiting limes

We do not have open visiting.

You are encouraged to take plenty of rest.

Priority time is given to husbands/partners, 8am - 9pm.

Other family members/friends are welcome 2.30pm - 4pm and 7pm - 8pm.

Own children only, under adult supervision at all times, please.

Keeping to these times helps comply with health and safety and security policies.

Patients' direct line telephone

Pay phones are available in each team area for outgoing calls and may also be used for pre-planned incoming calls (staff are unable to answer these telephones).

Red Team -  01284 713054
Blue Team -  01284 713218
Green Team -  01284 713979

Please do not use these telephones during rest times, i.e. 12.30pm - 2.30pm.

Safety first

Mothers' own electrical equipment may not be used in the hospital. There are hairdriers available upon request on the wards. Babies should not be carried around the ward they should be wheeled in their cots. Mothers should wear something on their feet at all times to avoid injury.