How We Care For You

Infection Control

The hospital is committed to providing all patients with the highest quality of care by preventing the spread of infection.

Hand washing, high standards of housekeeping, and the use of sterile techniques and equipment are all part of our service to ensure your speedy recovery and to reduce the risk of infection. Patients and visitors also have a role to play in reducing the risk of infection to themselves and other patients. Here are a few very simple guidelines:

• Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Alcohol based hand rubs are a very effective form of hand hygiene and are located at strategic locations in the hospital. We encourage all patients and visitors to use these
• It is very important that people who have infectious illnesses such as chicken pox, a cold sore, flu, parvovirus (slapped cheek), a stomach upset, bad cough or cold do not visit the hospital. These infections can be easily spread and some are particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborn babies.

Unfortunately, if the brothers and sisters of your newborn baby have any of these infections they must not visit you while you are in hospital.

Falls Prevention

The unfamiliar environment of a hospital combined with the fact that you may be on medication or fatigued can increase the likelihood of falls in hospital. Below are a few ways that you can reduce the risk of falling whilst in hospital:

• Take special care when walking, particularly if you are on pain-relieving drugs or other medications.
• Ensure you know the layout of your room and take care when moving around at night. Please use your call bell if you need assistance.
• Check the floors in your area to ensure they are not wet before walking.
• Ask your nurses for assistance if you need to use the toilet and feel unsteady on your feet
• Loose or full-length clothing can cause you to trip. Ensure your clothing is the right length for you
• Check that your slippers or other footwear fit securely. If your doctor has requested you to wear pressure stockings then it is a good idea to also wear slippers over the top to reduce the risk that you may slip. Rubber soled slippers are ideal footwear whilst in hospital

How do you keep your baby safe from falling?

• Never leave your baby unattended on an adult bed or other surface from which they may fall
• Ask for assistance, when moving your baby from their own safe cot if you feel at risk of falling
• When transporting your baby around the Maternity Unit always place your baby in their own safe cot. Walking with your baby in your arms is not encouraged. The cot bassinette should be flat for transportation.

Medication Safety

Please provide your nurse with any tablets or medicines that you have been taking before admission (or prescriptions for these).  These will be secured in a personal drug cabinet. Any additional medication you require while in hospital will be ordered by your doctor and supplied to you. When you are discharged, medications that you are required to take will be provided to you to take home.

Pressure Injury Prevention

A pressure injury is an area that has been damaged due to unrelieved pressure. They may look minor, such as redness on the skin, but can hide more damage under the skin surface. It is important that you relieve pressure by keeping active and changing your position frequently when you are lying in bed or sitting in a chair. If you are unable to move by yourself, the staff will help you change your position regularly. Tell staff if you have any tenderness, or soreness over a bony area or if you notice any reddened blistered or broken skin.

Blood Clot Prevention

Blood clotting is the body’s natural way of stopping itself from bleeding. Clotting only becomes an issue when it is in the wrong place and blocks blood flow. Being immobile is a big risk in developing a clot and so blood clotting can increase when you are staying in hospital and spending a long time immobile.

In addition, there are a number of risk factors to blood clotting including previous strokes, inherited blood clotting abnormalities, lung disease, being overweight, having major surgery in the past or heart failure, smoking or contraception medications. If you have any of these risk factors, please alert your doctor or the staff.

While in hospital, staff will assess your risk of developing a clot and may ask you to wear compression stockings, calf compressors, or they will provide you with blood thinning medication.

Staying mobile, taking any prescribed medications to reduce your risk of blood clotting, drinking plenty of fluid and avoid crossing your legs can reduce your risk of clotting. If you have sudden increased pain or swelling in your legs; pain in you lungs or chest; difficulty in breathing, please alert your nurse as soon as possible. If these symptoms occur after discharge seek emergency treatment.