Welcome to The Oak Clinic

Patient Information Leaflet

We would like to welcome you and offer information to guide you through your visit today

Contacting the unit – Telephone number: 01384 456111 ext 3919

If you need help communicating with us, for example, because you use British Sign Language or need an interpreter, please tell the staff in the department or ward and we will make arrangements to help you.

Mobility

Please can you let staff know if you need any help walking to the waiting area or cubicle and they will be happy to arrange this

What is The Oak Clinic?

The Oak Clinic provides a specialised and confidential health service in Dudley for people living with HIV. This includes health assessments, free treatment, referrals and advice.

Please note that ALL information given is treated with the utmost confidence. What services do we offer?

· Consultant led clinics

· Clinical Nurse Specialist clinics (CNS)

· Lifestyle assessments including alcohol and smoking cessation, cardiovascular, cognitive and frailty assessments.

· Results are given to patients either via phone or in person

· Cervical cytology

You may be offered a blood test to check your levels of immunity for measles, rubella and varicella zoster (chicken pox). If you do not wish to participate in these tests, please advise the nurse you wish to opt out.

Please note some of the above clinics can be either face to face or virtual via the telephone. We also offer in house phlebotomy and observations including blood pressure monitoring and urinalysis.

What happens in The Oak Clinic?

When you arrive in the department you will be met by the receptionist who may ask you to complete a contact details form. This will ensure all your contact information is correct and up to date. You will then be asked to take a seat in our waiting area.

Initial Assessment

A clinical support worker (CSW) will take your observations including height, weight, temperature and blood pressure. You will also be asked to provide a urine sample. You will then see a specialist nurse to complete a medication and adherence assessment and collect medications if required.

Medication

If applicable we will supply your HIV treatment which is prescribed by the consultant and we will explain your medication to you before you leave. The name, strength and instructions for taking your medicine are on the packaging. Each new medicine will have an information leaflet telling you about your medicine, what it is used for and possible side effects.

Consultant & Nurse clinics

You will be seen by either the Consultant or a specialised nurse to review your care and discuss any concerns you may have. If you wish to see the Consultant only, please advise the reception staff. During this consultation it will be decided if you require blood tests to be taken.

Phlebotomy

Any blood tests requested by the Consultant or specialist nurse will be taken in the department by a nurse or CSW. The results of the tests take approximately 4 weeks at which time you will receive a telephone consultation, which has been pre booked, to discuss your results.

Before leaving the department check that you have:

· Medication

· An appointment to receive your results

· Your next appointment with either the consultant or specialist nurse

· An appointment for a lifestyle assessment if required

Infection control

To prevent the spread of infection, we ask that all patients use the hand gel provided on entering and leaving the unit and wash their hands after using the bathroom. Patients should not attend if they have had diarrhoea and/or sickness in the previous 48 hours. Please call us and we will happily rearrange your appointment.

Slips, trips and falls hazards

To help us avoid slips, trips and falls, please wear well-fitting shoes when walking around and do not leave belongings on the floor.

Students

We are a teaching hospital, which means that nurses, doctors and other health professionals receive part of their training here. Medical students may accompany the medical team treating you. You may be asked if you are willing to take part in a teaching session that is attended by medical students. As a patient, you have an important part in the teaching work of the hospital, but if you do not want students to be involved in your care please let a member of the team know.

Taking photos

You are not allowed to take photos or make voice recordings or videos as the privacy and confidentiality of other patients must be respected. Failure to adhere to this may result in you being asked to leave the department.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet. If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Developed by CNS Sharon Harrold 2024