Information for Inpatients
Inpatients are patients who stay at the hospital for one or more night, whether for surgery, ongoing treatment or following an emergency admission.
We want to ensure your stay with us is as comfortable as possible and help you get well. At any time during your stay, please feel free to ask any member of staff for assistance. If you experience any difficulties or have questions, please let us know. You can also contact our Patient Experience Team at any time.
Getting here
Your appointment letter will include the nearest entrance to your admission location. You can find more information, including parking, public transport and site maps, in our Travelling to Dorset County Hospital section.
If you have a medical condition that means you cannot travel to the hospital using public transport, or you require the assistance of ambulance staff during your journey, then you may be eligible to use the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS).
How will I be informed about my surgery date?
We will contact you by telephone to arrange a date for your surgery. It is very important we have your daytime contact telephone number in our records.
How long will I wait for my surgery date?
We will endeavour to treat you within 18 weeks from your GP referral. In order to do this, we need to ensure that all the patients on our waiting list are ready, willing and available to come in for surgery:
Ready – depending on your planned surgery you will be asked to come for a pre-operative assessment appointment or complete a medical questionnaire. If you are found to have a medical condition which could delay your surgery, your care will be returned to your GP and they will re-refer you when you are ready.
Willing – by giving your consent for your operation or procedure you are confirming you are happy to go ahead with your surgery. If after discussing this with family and friends you change your mind, please let us know as soon as possible.
Available – we realise there may be some dates that will be inconvenient for you. We hope we will be in a position to offer you a date that is mutually convenient. It is important that you inform us if you wish to delay your admission. This will of course affect our ability to treat you within 18 weeks.
You can find more information and advice about waiting for surgery on our Waiting Well page.
Reasonable offer date for surgery
If clinically appropriate we will telephone you at least three weeks prior to your date of surgery. However, you will be given the opportunity for short notice admission (less than three weeks). We will hopefully be in a position to offer you up to three dates. If you are unable to accept any of these dates, we may return you to your GP. Your GP will re-refer you when you are available.
What happens if I cancel my surgery date?
You will agree the date of your surgery verbally and we will follow this up with a letter confirming the arrangements that have been made. If the date of your surgery then becomes inconvenient you should notify us as early as possible prior to your surgery date. Please contact us using the phone number on your appointment letter. A ‘patient pause’ may be added from the point you make contact to the point you are available for surgery.
If you do not inform us and fail to arrive for admission, we may return your care back to your GP. If your GP considers that you should be seen again, they will re-refer you. For full details please refer to our Patient Access Policy.
You can help us to keep waiting times down by ensuring you contact us if you are unable to attend your planned admission.
Consenting for treatment
Health professionals need to gain your consent. Before having your operation, you should be asked to sign a consent form. Before you consent be sure that you are aware of the risks, benefits and alternatives. You can withdraw consent at any time.
What should I bring with me?
When deciding what to take into hospital you should be selective. Only bring things with you that you really need like toiletries and nightwear. Please do not bring any expensive jewellery as we are unable to accept responsibility for items not secured in the safe.
Please bring a supply of your regular medication with you, including any injections, inhalers, eye drops or patches – this helps hospital staff prescribe your medication correctly, prevents delays in treatment and reduces waste.
Simple steps to keep you safe during your hospital stay
While you are in hospital, keeping you safe and well is a priority for the staff looking after you. There are also some simple things you can do to help keep yourself safe during your hospital stay, such as asking for help when needed, protecting yourself from slips and falls and helping to prevent blood clots.
The NHS England National Patient Safety team have created the below video to provide tips on keeping yourself safe during your hospital stay.
You can also access a leaflet on keeping yourself safe during your hospital stay here.
Privacy and dignity
We are committed to privacy, dignity and patient safety and as such complies with the Government’s requirement to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except is where it is in the patient’s best interest or reflects personal choice, for example in critical care and specialist care settings where the clinical safety needs of the patient take priority. Read more on our Privacy and Dignity page.
Involving carers, relatives and friends
We recognise and value the role of patients’ carers, relatives and friends and will respect your wishes with regard to their involvement in your care. If you are a carer, you can find more information on our Information for Carers page.
We welcome visiting on our wards for the wellbeing of our patients. Visiting times for most wards are 11am to 8pm, seven days a week. Read our visiting guidance here.
Planning your discharge
If you are coming to hospital as an inpatient, you should start thinking about your discharge arrangements and any help you may need once you go home. We aim to keep your stay in hospital as short as possible.
On the day of your discharge, you will be transferred to the Discharge Lounge to await collection. There is a designated pick-up area for your convenience if someone is collecting you by car.
You can read our discharge leaflet here. You can also find more information on our Patient Discharge Information page.
Research studies
Dorset County Hospital actively contributes to research. You may therefore be approached to discuss the opportunity to participate in a study. Find out more about research here.
Your personal information
Please be assured that all of your information is treated confidentially and only shared on a ‘need to know basis’.
Under the Data Protection Act, you are entitled to see information held on your health record. Further information can be found on our Information Governance page.
Staff protection
We have a responsibility to protect our staff from violence, threatening behaviour and verbal abuse. Staff have the same rights as patients to be treated with respect and dignity at all times and are asked to record incidences of violence and aggression.
No smoking policy
A no smoking policy is strictly enforced at all our hospital sites. If you are a smoker due to come into hospital, please speak to your GP about getting support. Alternatively, you can contact the LiveWell Dorset service on 0800 840 1628.
Mobile telephones
Mobile telephones can be used in the hospital. However, they should not be used around sensitive medical equipment where there is a particularly high risk of interference. Signs around the hospital will make it clear which areas you shouldn’t use your mobile telephone in. In these areas, mobile telephones should be switched off or have ‘airplane mode’ enabled. Please do not just leave the device on silent or vibrate as it could still affect medical equipment.
Refreshments
Refreshments are available at Dorset County Hospital from Damers Restaurant (North Wing Level 2), at the Terrace Café (South Wing Level 2), and at Costa (North Wing Level 1).
We also have a number of vending machines across the hospital.
More information is available on our Catering page.