Thinking back to my six months(+) hospital(after I had the accident), I began to think of what I would need-hence this opinion.
Hygiene
You should be prepared to take everything you need at home into hospital with you. Things such as: soap, shower gel, shaving foam and razors, toothpaste and brush, deodrant, hand towel, etc. You may also like to bring some tissues, and wet wipes if you are going to be bed ridden.
Medicines
It is important that you take ALL medication you are on into hospital. It is important because any new medicines they wish to give may have to be changed due to reactions with your current ones.
Consent
If you need a procedure done that requires consent, you will be asked to sign a;consent forms;. This relinquishes the hospital of any mishaps. It is worth reading it, although you may not have the chance in some cases.
Food
Now here is a subject close to my heart. On my initial six months(and subsequent stays) the food has been well, far from tempting. It may be wise to take some snacks with you, or like me get your family to bring some sandwiches or nibbles. It may also be wise to bring a bottle of squash with you to dilute the water that often remains out of the fridge and on your table for hours at a time. Alternatively, you could ask if a bottle of juice can be stored in the ward fridge, and you can use as required.
Keeping entertained
This depends on what you enjoy doing. Personally I make sure I have enough batteries for my Walkman, and game boy(how did we cope with such things). That alone can keep me busy for hours on end. Then a lot of wards these days have personal TV/phones. You have to pay for these though, although most if not all wards have a day room with a free TV. Of course the most obvious past time(though one I am not that hot with) is reading. Some hospitals offer a library, some of which will go around the ward weekly. Crosswords, puzzles, and the like can also spend a few hours of boredom k-illing. Of course unless you are isolated, you will have neighbours to chat the day away with as well.
Physiotherapy, Nurses and Doctors
In my experience the nurses are the salt of the earth. They will try their best to make you comfortable, and pain free. If you have any problems your first port of call is your named nurse. If he/she can’t help you then he/she knows someone who does! The doctors come in various forms, namely house officers, senior house officers, registrar, consultant etc. These are the people who can allow you home, and sign you the pain killers you may need, so its worth being nice to these. As for physiotherapists, well they have your best interests at heart, but golly they can hurt! However, without their skills many people would be immobile! Remember the old saying of we have to be cruel to be kind. Please remember you are not the only patient on the ward and the medical staff are very busy, and very stressed. I recall being in hospital once where a patient actually shouted at a nurse, and really upset her. She was being nicer than I would have been in those circumstances, and never even raised her voice just walked away! She did nothing, the patient was stressed and wound up, and took it out on this nurse. Of course some staff, may not portray the image I have talked about, and there are usually the odd one or two to spoil the total view.
Ancillary staff
These people include hospital workers who are often ignored such as: cleaners, porters, and ward assistants. Just remember that if they weren’t there, the nurses and doctors would have less time doing what they do so well.
Money and valuables
It is unadvisable to take much money, other than what you might need for your immediate needs.(Such as a newspaper, or cold drink etc). The hospital WILL NOT be held responsible for any valuables that you leave in your locker or unattended. As seen in the past valuable things have gone missing from hospital, and if they can walk out with a baby, then a Walkman is nothing. So I would say take an older walk man or game boy with just a few games. You may need to sign a form to declare you DO NOT hold the hospital responsible for your valuables.
Payments and Gifts
A lot of people feel they need to reward or thank the staff that have looked after them. This is unnecessary, but it is nice to show appreciation of what is an under-valued-much moaned at service. Monetary gifts were forbidden where I worked, however we could accept boxes of chocolates, biscuits etc. So that’s a good place to begin. Some hospitals allow you to donate to ward funds, if you specifically want to donate money.
Visitors
Something most people in hospital look forward to is a visitor. Catching up with what’s happening at home. Seeing loved ones, reading letters, etc. Visitors are usually allowed for few hours in the afternoon and a few in the evening. Most wards will accept visitors at other times, but it is worth arranging it with ward staff to make sure.
Services
Services that may be offered can include a library service, a shop trolley, Private TV/Phone. Some hospitals are more like shopping centres these days, and my local one has just about everything you can imagine a supermarket, newsagents, gift shop, clothes shop, flower shop and more. In addition there is a burger king, jacket potato place, and a few other cafés.
Discharge
The day has come, and the doctors have finally said you can go home. You want to jump for joy, but that leg is still sore, so that’s out! When you leave hospital, you will be given a few things. 1) These include a letter to your doctor This will tell him/her that you have come out of hospital and a few details etc. 2) Any medication you brought into with you. 3) Any new medication the hospital had prescribed, this will also be detailed in the letter to your doctor. 4) You will also be told what you can do and what you should avoid and for how long.
Electrical items
Electrical items will not be permitted in hospital without 1 The approval of ward staff 2 Your electrical item being checked out by a Hospital electrician.
I am all prepared for my hospital stay now, I have got my batteries, a few magazines, a puzzle book, my GB, and my walkman. Children tend to bore more easily than adults, so they will obviously need more attention and entertainment than us oldies! But a hospital stay can be bearable, with the right preparation.