Information for Patients
Meals
Meals are normally served as follows:
Breakfast: 8.30 am
Lunch: 12.00 to 12.30 pm
Afternoon: Tea 2.00 pm
Supper: 5.00 to 5.30 pm
Evening Tea: 7.00 to 8.00 pm
The unit caters for all types of special diet and will offer you a choice of menu in advance. If you have any concerns about your food, please speak to a nurse on the unit so that any problems can be sorted out at the time.
Smoking
Since 1 August 2008, smoking has been banned in all NHS Lanarkshire grounds.
It means people are no longer allowed to light up anywhere inside NHS Lanarkshire premises or within its grounds – including areas around hospital, clinic and health centre entrances, and in vehicles parked on NHS premises.
Alcohol
Unless contra-indicated by your medical condition, you may enjoy a light refreshment. As directed by hospital policy, you may not store alcohol in your locker. Therefore NHS Lanarkshire asks that it be given to the nursing staff, who will accept responsibility for storing it for you.
Spiritual Care
NHS Lanarkshire strives to address the fundamental human need to have a sense of peace, security and hope, particularly in the context of illness or loss. The hospital has two part-time chaplains who visit the unit weekly and on request at any time.
Your own chaplain may also visit you at any time. Staff can also help make arrangements to enable members of minority faith communities to have access to their faith or spiritual leader.
We have a quiet room designated for the purpose of:
- prayer, meditation and quiet reflection
- spiritual and religious services
- meetings and pastoral counselling
Mail
Mail is delivered daily to the unit and outgoing mail is also collected daily. If you need some assistance with letter writing please do not hesitate to ask.
Hairdresser
Your own hairdresser may come into the Unit and attend to your hair, although the unit has a hairdresser who comes to the unit every week and her prices are very competitive.
Courtyard Garden
The unit is very fortunate to have a lovely courtyard garden which you and your family can enjoy weather permitting.
Personal Belongings
If you have any items of value please inform the nurse in charge who will arrange to have them placed in a secure cash office for safekeeping. The unit can hold cash in the ward office on your behalf up to the value of £20.00; larger amounts are sent to the secure cash office for safekeeping.
You will always be provided with a receipt, which you should keep and present when you wish to uplift your valuables. If you do not wish to use the facilities provided for the safekeeping of cash or valuables, you will be required to sign a disclaimer form, as NHS Lanarkshire does not accept liability for any items not deposited for safe-keeping.
Finance
Your benefits may reduce while you are in hospital. Please arrange for your next of kin to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (Benefi.ts Agency)of your stay in hospital. You may also be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax.
Laundry
The unit provides a personal laundry, which you may care to use. All clothes require to be machine washable and suitable to be tumble dried. Any garments requiring to be dry-cleaned or hand washed will be the responsibility of your relatives. We do not have facilities to dry flat.
To enable us to send your clothing to the personal laundry, it must be marked with a hospital label displaying your name. It is therefore very important that your relative hands over all clothing to the nursing staff who will arrange to have it marked. Do not leave unmarked clothing in your locker.
When relatives replace clothing please give it to the nursing staff who will arrange to have it marked with your name. Should you choose not to use the laundry service, please speak to the nurse in charge who will arrange for a basket to be placed at the bottom of your bed for dirty clothes which your relative can take for washing.
It is still advised that you have this clothing marked with your name. On admission, in order that all your clothing may be marked, the majority will be sent to the sewing room, keeping a minimum amount in the unit.
Safer Patient Handling Policy
The unit operates a Safer Patient Handling Policy to ensure the health and welfare of both patient and staff. The unit aims to eliminate manual lifting of patients in all but exceptional situations. You are encouraged to assist in your own transfers, but if you require assistance, staff may use a hoist or other appropriate handling aids.
Your Views and Opinions
The unit’s staff are firmly committed to providing the best possible treatment and care for you. The unit is are keen to improve what it does by listening to what you and your relatives have to say and would therefore welcome your comments on what you think was done well and where improvements could be made.
Please feel free to speak to your named nurse. Most patients are satisfied with the service. However, the unit would like to hear from you if you are unhappy about any part of it, whether it is with the catering, standard of cleanliness, the care you are receiving or something else. It is important that you let someone know as soon as possible, so please try to raise your concerns with the staff in the unit.
Information for Visitors
Telephone Enquiries
The telephone number for Stonehouse Hospital is 01698 794000. The Lockhart Unit has a direct dial telephone number: 01698 794004.
Postal arrangements
Please address all letters as follows: Full name, Lockhart Unit, Stonehouse Hospital Strathaven Road, Stonehouse ML9 3NT.
Visiting
You are welcome to visit the unit at any time. There are no restrictions on the number of visitors allowed. In the event of a patient being ill the number of visitors will be at the discretion of the nurse in charge. Patients may have visitors in their bedroom or in any of the day areas.
The nurse in charge has the right to ask a visitor to leave or to refuse entry to the unit should the visitor display aggressive, inappropriate or offensive behaviour, or if, for any reason, the patient does not wish to see the visitor.
A responsible adult must supervise children visiting the unit.
We would encourage your participation with patient care, for example, tidying out your relative’s locker, help with feeding at meal- times, if appropriate and attending social events arranged for patients.
Visitors to the unit can gain access by ringing the bell to alert the nursing staff, who will in turn release the door. We would respectfully ask that you comply with our policy.
No Smoking
Since 1 August 2008, smoking has been banned in all NHS Lanarkshire grounds.
It means people are no longer allowed to light up anywhere inside NHS Lanarkshire premises or within its grounds – including areas around hospital, clinic and health centre entrances, and in vehicles parked on NHS premises.
Gifts to Patients
Please check with nursing staff before leaving food, sweets, or soft drinks with patients. They may be on a restricted or special diet.
Money Valuables
Please do not leave large amounts of money with patients, as staff cannot be responsible for money kept by patients. Do not leave valuables with patients without notifying the nursing staff, for example watches, rings and so on. Similarly, such items should not be removed from patients without informing the nursing staff.
Laundry
All new items of clothing should be given to nursing staff in order to have them marked with your relative ’s name.
Legal Documents
It is necessary to check with medical staff before a patient signs any document. It is also helpful to advise the nurse in charge of any legal business.
Pensions and Social Security Benefits
If you are cashing any benefit for your relative while they are in hospital you must inform the Department for Work and Pensions.
Allowance and Disability
Living Allowance payments are reduced after 28 days. Further advice on alteration to other benefits can be obtained from the Department of Work and Pensions. If your relative is in receipt of housing benefit, please notify the Housing Authority if their benefit is reduced, as this may in turn affect their housing benefit. Please inform the Department of Work and Pensions when your relative is discharged from hospital.
Guide Dogs
Guide/hearing dogs are permitted within the hospital building.
Useful Telephone Numbers
Social Work Department
Tel: 01698 884 656
Whitelaws Coaches
Tel: 01698 792 800
Age Concern Scotland
Tel: 0141 554 2211
Clydesdale Advocacy Service
Tel: 01555 759 480
Ward Philosophy
Our team at The Lockhart Unit, Stonehouse Hospital are committed to providing quality, holistic, evidence-based care aimed at each patient’s individual needs.
Each patient will be allocated a named nurse who will be responsible for assessing, planning and evaluating care.
We will work in partnership with the older person, relatives and carers to plan care and encourage active participation to achieve the most appropriate outcome.
We will provide patient centred care giving the right to privacy, fulfilment, autonomy and maintenance of individuality and self esteem whilst being aware of and sensitive to cultural, ethnic and religious beliefs.
We aim to create an environment of mutual respect amongst staff, patients, and their carers who can expect empathetic and professional staff who will work within the boundaries of confidentiality.
We aim to maintain respect and dignity at all times and we hope your time spent with us is positive.