UPMC Kildare Hospital Patient Information

To make your admission to UPMC Kildare Hospital as smooth as possible, please review any information that you have received from the hospital and/or your consultant prior to your admission.

Before You Arrive

Pre-assessment appointments

Pre-operative assessment is very important to ensure you have the best outcome following surgery.

When you attend the pre-assessment clinic, we will take a full medical history, including the list of all your medications and any allergies that you may have.

After this, we will perform a physical examination and any tests or investigations requested by your consultant. Following your pre-assessment, we will liaise with your surgeon/anaesthetist and will arrange any further tests/investigations deemed necessary.

When you are attending pre-assessment, it is best to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. If you need to fast prior to attending the pre-assessment, we will let you know in advance.

At pre-assessment, you can ask any questions about your hospital stay, procedure, or recovery. We aim to ensure you are fully informed and well prepared for your surgery by delivering effective, quality-assured patient care.

Pre-procedure instructions

It is very important that you follow the instructions given by your consultant and your pre-assessment nurse to prepare for your procedure.

Please ensure you fast (this means no food or drink, including water) for the recommended period if advised to do so. This information will be in your letter advising you of your admission time.

List of Essentials for Your Packing List

Medical information

• A copy of your current prescriptions.
• All the medications you are currently taking, including non-prescription medications, herbal, and other remedies.
• All medication must be in the original pharmacy dispensed container or manufacturer's box.
• You must also bring a supply of all medication to cover the duration of your stay in the hospital.
• A list of all your allergies to medicines (if any).
• Copies of relevant medical or health-related information you may have, e.g. x-rays, records, and reports.

It is vital that (upon request) you show these items to the nurse or doctor. Please hand these to the nursing staff on admission for storage in the lockable cupboards adjacent to your bed.

If you are taking anticoagulant therapy, including diabetic medications, or an oral contraceptive pill, please contact your consultant or consultant's secretary prior to your admission, as you may need to discontinue this medication before your procedure.

Please note that it is our policy that nurses administer all medications when you are in hospital. If you have any concerns or questions about your medicines, please ask a member of the nursing staff.

We return your medication to you when you are ready to go home. We do not dispense medication from our pharmacy for your discharge. If you start on any new medications during your stay, we will issue you a new prescription.

Personal items check list

• Toiletries.
• Comb or hairbrush.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Pyjamas/nightdress and loose comfortable clothing.
• A pair of closed-back shoes, flat-soled shoes, trainers, or well-fitting slippers.
• Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and dentures. Try, where possible, to keep these in their protective containers when not in use to ensure that they do not become mislaid or damaged.
• A small amount of cash for sundry items.
• Reading materials.
• Something to help you pass the time, such as a laptop, (wi-fi is available free of charge throughout the hospital), books, magazines, or puzzles.

What Not to Bring with You to Hospital

We would be grateful if you would leave the following at home:

• Jewellery (other than a wedding band).
• Please remove all body piercings, nail polish, gel, or false nails and make up for your procedure.
• Valuables, for example, cheque books, credit/debit cards, or large sums of cash.
• Cigarettes or e-cigarettes.

We cannot accept liability for loss or damage to any cash or valuables or personal effects, whether they belong to you or your visitors.

Where you cannot avoid bringing valuables with you to the hospital, please ensure you're fully covered by your own insurance. Please note that the hospital provides towels.

Special Requirements

• If you have special dietary, religious, or disability requirements, please let us know well in advance of your admission so that we can meet your needs.
• If you do not wish people to know that you are a patient in hospital or if you would like to restrict your visitors or phone calls, please inform admissions staff or a staff member on your ward.

On Arrival at the Hospital

At reception, please follow the sign for Admissions into the first waiting area then follow the green steps to the Admissions/Check-in office where you will 'check in' to the hospital. We will confirm your personal and insurance details.

Once the admission process is complete, you will go to your designated ward where the staff will take you through information on your condition, your planned treatment, and care.

Occasionally, we may ask patients to wait in a waiting room whilst we prepare their room. We do our best to minimise this and ask for your patience if it does happen.

Special Instructions for Paediatric Admissions:

• Bring your child into hospital in light day clothes (tracksuit) or for very early admission you can leave their pyjamas (not onesies) on.
• Bring a favourite blanket or toy, a soother and/or bottle (if used and approved), a spare set of clothes, nappies/wipes, books/colouring books, and games to pass the time.
• If your child is staying overnight you will need to bring personal items for yourself. Please don't bring valuables.

During Your Stay

During your stay at UPMC Kildare Hospital, we will do everything we can to make you comfortable. We involve you in your care. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about your admission, treatment, or care.

If you feel you need support when in hospital, ask a trusted family member or friend to speak on your behalf. They can ask questions that you may not think of. They may also help remember answers to questions. Make sure your advocate understands your preferences for care and that you have reviewed your consent for treatment with them.

Getting ready for your procedure

When your admission to the ward is complete, you will get a theatre gown to change into in preparation for your procedure.

To help prevent blood clots, you may be asked to wear surgical stockings or receive anti-coagulant injections before or after your procedure.

At this time, one of our doctors will re-confirm your consent to proceed with surgery and may use a pen to mark the part of your body to be operated on.

Identification

It is very important that we can clearly and correctly identify you at any given time. Our staff will ask you to repeat certain critical information several times in each patient care area. This includes:

• Your first name (as it appears on your birth certificate)
• Your surname
• Your date of birth
• Your address
• Your scheduled procedure

On Arrival to the Ward

On arrival to the ward, we will take you to your room. A nurse will complete your admission details, conduct routine measurements and tests, and confirm the time of your procedure. Your procedure time could change due to unforeseen circumstances, but we will always keep you informed.

At this time, you will also receive an identification (ID) bracelet. Please check the information on your ID bracelet to make sure your name and date of birth are correct.

Including you as a partner in this important process helps us provide you with a safe experience. Please wear your ID bracelet throughout your hospital stay. If your ID bracelet comes off, please inform your nurse who will issue you with a new one.

Consent for treatment

Before starting any treatment, investigation, or providing personal care to you, we will ask for your consent either verbally or in writing. In the case of medical examination, treatment, or investigation, consent must be sought according to Irish and international law.

The reason behind obtaining consent is to respect your right as the patient to self-determination (autonomy) – your right to control and decide what happens to your body. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to try and maximise your health and well-being whilst minimising harm to you. Before consenting to any treatment, your consultant will discuss:

• The nature and purpose of the operation or procedure.
• The benefits and risks of the operation or procedure.
• The possibilities of complications.
• The alternatives to this operation or procedure.

For children aged 18 years and under, it will be necessary for a parent or legal guardian to sign an informed consent form in circumstances where they require surgical intervention (if not done in Outpatients during the initial consultation) for certain types of treatment, surgical procedures, or the use of blood or blood products. Where the parents of the child are not married, the child's mother is the automatic legal guardian (National Consent Policy Guidelines). Each intervention proposed will be explained to you by your child's consultant.

Minimising the risk of slips, trips, and falls

During your stay, please wear safe, well-fitted footwear (no backless shoes or backless slippers, no high heels, or crocs) at all times.

We ask this to ensure that we minimise the risk of falling or slipping following your surgery.

Hygiene and Infection Control

The hospital follows best practice guidelines to reduce the risk of infection. If you have a procedure scheduled and are suffering from COVID-19, flu, or other infectious respiratory symptoms, please contact your consultant. Masks must be worn in all indoor settings at UPMC Kildare Hospital.

• We request that everybody entering the hospital use the hand gels provided and sanitise their hands frequently.
• Hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs and infections.
• It is especially important to wash hands after using the toilet or before touching any wound or incision.
• Depending on your planned procedure, we may ask you to shower/bath with disinfectant soap to reduce the risk of infection. We also require that patients have a shower/bath on the morning of surgery.
• Let your nurse know if you require fresh linen or towels.
• Ask friends and family who have colds, stomach bugs, or other infections to stay at home and not to visit until they recover.
• Avoid sitting on other patients' beds.

As part of our infection control policy, we ask that you and your visitors be sensitive to the needs of other patients and respond to any requests made to you by the ward staff.

We ask visitors who have experienced an episode of sickness or diarrhoea in the previous two days to refrain from visiting relatives or friends in the hospital.

If you have a procedure scheduled and are suffering from COVID-19, flu, or other infectious respiratory symptoms, please contact your consultant.

It is the policy of UPMC Kildare Hospital to assess all patients' MRSA status.

Discharge from UPMC Kildare Hospital

The discharge time is 12 p.m. (Noon). Due to admissions and room cleaning, you may need to wait in the patient lounge while you wait for your transport home.

On admission to UPMC Kildare Hospital, your discharge planning will commence. You will receive your estimated discharge date from the medical/nursing staff. If you feel you may require continued care i.e. nursing home/rehab you should have this organised prior to your admission where possible.

If you require a medical certificate, please ask the nursing staff. Please note UPMC Kildare Hospital certs are valid for two weeks. If you require a cert for a longer period, you will need to contact your GP.

On discharge, your GP will be advised of your treatment and plan of care.

Post-operative instruction

It is important that you follow the instructions in your discharge pack, given to you by your consultant and the nursing staff. Please ensure that you understand these instructions before leaving the hospital. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions at this time.

Prescription for medication

On your discharge from UPMC Kildare Hospital you may get a prescription for medication, often including but not limited to antibiotics or painkillers.

If you think you may have an allergy to the prescribed medication, please inform the nurse/doctor of this prior to leaving the hospital so that the prescription may be altered.

It is very important that you have the prescription filled at a pharmacy before going home and take the medication as prescribed. In the case of antibiotics, be sure to finish the course.

Pain

We encourage you to take painkillers as prescribed, even if you are comfortable while resting.

This prevents pain from increasing unnecessarily when you start to move around after surgery or illness.

Good pain relief can help prevent complications such as chest infection or leg clots, by enabling you to breathe deeply, cough easily, and move around more freely.

At home

When you return home, it's important to take it easy. If possible, have someone stay with you the first night. Follow your discharge instructions carefully.

If you have any problems or concerns, or if you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed below, please call the number on your discharge advice sheet at any time day or night:

• Heavy bleeding.
• Intense pain.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Trouble catching your breath.
• Fever.

Day Case Surgery

Prior to your admission to the Day Surgery Unit please take note of the following:

• On leaving the Day Surgery Unit after having an anaesthetic/sedation, you must be in the company of a responsible adult. Do not drive or travel alone. If you have difficulty arranging transport, please advise the staff at the Unit as they will be happy to assist.
• It is not necessary to a bring dressing gown, but you may prefer to wear one as you will be given a theatre gown with a back opening.
• Following your procedure, you will be staying in the Day Surgery Unit for a minimum of two hours.
• On discharge, we advise your GP of your treatment and plan of care.

Consent for personal data processing

At UPMC Kildare Hospital, we take your privacy very seriously. It is important that you know exactly what we do with personal and sensitive personal information (“Personal Data") that you and others provide to us, why we gather it, and what it means to you. We commit to processing, protecting, and respecting all Personal Data about you under national and EU data protection legislation. To lawfully process your Personal Data, we obtain and record explicit consent from you. If you have concerns about your personal data or wish to make an enquiry or a complaint about a GDPR related issue, please contact UPMC Kildare Hospital's Data Protection Officer on dpo.kildare@upmc.ie or by post to: DPO, UPMC Kildare Hospital, Clane, Kildare.

Information on Visitors/Family

We actively encourage you and your family to participate in any decisions about your care.

If you feel more comfortable having a nominated family member present during key consultations, please let your nurse know so that we can facilitate this.

Throughout your stay, the team involved in your care will keep you informed on your treatment and progress.

Chaperone service

If you wish to have a chaperone present during any examination or procedure, please let your nurse know.