Information for inpatients

Arriving at The Walton Centre

On the day of your admission to The Walton Centre you need to contact the bed manager before setting off from home, to check a bed is available. Please call 0151 525 3611 after 10.30am and ask for bleep 2009. If no bed is available then an alternative date for admission will be arranged and sent out to you as soon as possible. 

You can find information on how to find us and parking below. 

Please go directly to the ward that you have been allocated and report to the nurses’ station, where a member of staff will assist you. Wards are split into single sex bays with between four to six beds in each bay. There are a few single rooms on each ward, but these are allocated by the ward staff according to the clinical need of the patient. On occasion, patients who have been allocated a single room may have to be moved into the main ward bays, either because of their condition or to accommodate another patient. We will do our very best to accommodate individual concerns. 
 

Consent to treatment 

Before giving your consent, you will be given a clear explanation of your condition and any proposed tests, treatment, investigation or procedure - including any risks involved and any alternatives there may be. 

Information about your treatment and care 

Should you have any worries or concerns about your stay in hospital, please speak to any member of the nursing staff and they will be happy to help you. 

If you want to know anything about your illness, please ask the doctor or nurse caring for you. 

If you wish others to be present when you receive news or information you should ask a nurse or other member of staff, though there may be reasons why this may not be possible. 

If you are unsure of what you are being told, please ask for it to be repeated or explained more clearly. You may wish to ask if there is written information about your condition or treatment if you do not have this already. 

Medication 

It is vital that you bring any medications with you, that you are currently taking, in its original container. Nursing staff will take these from you and may use them during your stay. They will be returned to you on discharge if they are still required along with any medication you need to take home. In some cases, patients are asked to stop specific medication at certain times prior to their admission. Please follow the specific instructions given to you by your consultant. 

Delivering same sex accommodation 

All NHS organisations are expected to eliminate mixed sex accommodation, except where it is in the overall best interests of the patient, or reflects the patient’s personal choice. The Trust is committed to maintaining best practice for single sex accommodation and compliance with NHS Standards.  

There are some circumstances where mixed sex accommodation can be justified but these are rare and the Trust has a policy in place to provide clarity  and guidance to staff to enable them to deliver care and treatment in a way which treats service users with respect and maintains their dignity. 

You can read the Trust's policy here [LINK TO POLICY]. 

You can read the Trust's declaration here [LINK TO DECLARATION]. 

Meals and meal times 

There is a varied menu for most meals in the hospital and you will be asked to select your choice of meals for the following day. Special dietary requirements, including vegetarian and kosher food, are available on request. Food may be brought in by prior arrangement with the ward you are staying on, but cannot be stored in the fridge or re-heated. 

Meal times 

Breakfast                                                  Lunch                                        Evening meal 

8am – 8.30am                                       12pm – 1pm                              5pm – 6.30pm 

What should I bring to hospital? 

A bedside locker will be provided for your belongings, but space is limited so please do not bring more than you need. Below is a helpful checklist for what to bring into hospital: 

• Comfortable clothes to wear during the day (e.g. loose jeans, tracksuit pants, leggings, shirt, hoodie, jumper) 
• Underwear 
• Pyjamas to wear at night 
• Toothbrush and toothpaste 
• Deodorant 
• Hairbrush/comb 
• Slippers (preferably with a full back) 
• Hearing aid and spare batteries 
• Shaving equipment 
• Soap and face cloth 
• Sanitary items 
• Bath and hand towels 
• Spectacles 
• Shampoo 
• Headphones (for television) 
• Medication 

Note: Hair dryers are provided on each ward