What do I need to do if I am being admitted to hospital?

If you are coming into hospital you should try bring the following with you:

• A supply of all your current medication, preferably in the original containers so they are easily identifiable.
• An up-to-date repeat prescription list from your GP.
• Any compliance aids you use to help you take your medication such as medidose and dossette.
• Any supplementary information you think we might need to know about such as steroid cards, insulin passports, warfarin books and recent discharge letters.

What happens during my stay in hospital?

Shortly after you arrive in hospital you will be visited by a member of the pharmacy team who will discuss your medication with you. They will take a note of your drug history, record any allergies you have and assess how suitable the medication you currently take is, also considering whether any compliance aids would help you.

Throughout your stay with us a member of the pharmacy team will also arrange for any medication you need to be supplied to your ward and will review your drug chart regularly, making sure that an adequate supply of your medication is ready and available. The pharmacy team will also support the doctors and nurses involved in your care with any queries or questions relating to the medicines you have prescribed.

What happens when I leave?

A member of the team will prepare your paperwork ahead of your discharge so it is ready as soon as you are well enough to go home.

When you are ready to be discharged, the team will check your medication has been prescribed correctly, appropriately and accurately before dispensing the medication you need for your return home. They will also check you have an adequate supply of your medication to keep you going.

When you are discharged you will also receive one copy of your discharge letter. One copy will remain in your hospital notes and another in the Pharmacy Department. Your GP will also receive an electronic copy from the hospital.

How long will I wait for my medication?

The hospital pharmacy at Russells Hall Hospital serves both outpatients and inpatients from across the Trust. While safety is always our main focus we strive to complete prescriptions to the highest clinical standards and as quickly as possible.

We will always try our best to get you your medication as quickly as we can but we do experience busy periods where you may have to wait longer than usual.

The average waiting time for outpatient prescriptions is 30 minutes. If you do find yourself waiting significantly longer than this please speak to a member of pharmacy staff.

Information about your medicines

The NHS website has an A to Z of medicines with information such as common uses and side effects Medicines A to Z – NHS

All medicines are supplied with a Patient Information Leaflet inside the box.  Your local community pharmacy can help answer questions about your medicines, and many run devices to help you with your medicines.

If you have questions about the medicines you’ve received from the hospital you can contact our pharmacy department.  You can contact us by calling XXXX between 9am and 7pm Monday to Friday.

If you have an urgent question about your medicines, or your medicines are making you feel unwell, please contact your GP or

• Urgent and emergency care services – NHS(opens in new tab)

NHS 111 may also be able to help if you need advice urgently

• When to use NHS 111 online or call 111 – NHS(opens in new tab)

Getting more medicines

If you are discharged from the hospital, a copy of your discharge letter will be sent to your GP.  This will list any changes made to your medication during your hospital stay.  The GP will then be able to provide a prescription for more medicines that are to continue, which you can get from your local community pharmacy.  Please make sure you contact your GP to order medication in plenty of time before you run out.

If you were started on a new medicine in an outpatient clinic, the prescriber will advise you if further medication should be obtained from the GP or from the hospital.

Useful websites

Patient Information leaflets

www.patient.org.uk

NHS Medicines A to Z

Medicines A to Z – NHS

Find a Community Pharmacy

Find a pharmacy – NHS

Fit for Travel

Home – Fit for Travel

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are a form of research that looks at particular medicines and whether they are safe and effective in people. Doctors use clinical research studies to compare current treatments with potentially better ones, so that we can keep improving the care we offer our patients.

Research is part of the core work of the NHS. People who take part in studies often feel that they are taking an active part in their health care and helping others, by helping to identify the best treatments.

In recent years, more than half a million NHS patients chose to take part in nearly 3000 clinical research studies. Thanks to those patients, we are learning more all the time about how to deal with a whole range of medical conditions and make some real breakthroughs that will improve thousands of lives.

How is pharmacy involved in clinical trials??

There are specialised staff within the department who are specifically involved in clinical trials; the dispensary team are involved with oral medicines and the aseptic team are involved with injectable medicines. Pharmacy is involved from the initial set up of a trial, right through to the end of a trial. Any medicine given to a patient within a trial is supplied by pharmacy and it is our responsibility to ensure patients receive the treatment assigned to them. To ensure safety throughout the trial, our procedures are continually reviewed and designed to support this. All medicines used within trials have to be carefully stored and monitored throughout and pharmacy play a vital role in doing this.

Which clinical areas at Dudley are involved in clinical trials?

Clinical trials that are open here cover a broad range of specialities such as:

Cardiology

Dermatology

Haematology

Oncology

Obstetrics

Neonatal  and Paediatrics

Rheumatology

If you have a medical condition and are undergoing treatment, you can speak to your nurse or consultant about clinical research, and whether it might be right for you. In many cases doctors will tell patients about research but patients can ask about it if they are interested.

The Oak Clinic is a friendly, comprehensive service that provides world class care, advice and information for those living with HIV.

We provide a confidential, non-judgemental service focusing on ‘person-centred’ care, integrating and co-ordinating diverse elements of a person’s healthcare needs with a clear focus to maintain good health .

Our service is open-access, which means you do not need to be referred to the clinic by a GP or other healthcare professional.

No information will be shared about you without your explicit consent.

Where is the clinic?

Russells Hall Hospital, North Wing 1^st floor.

Services include: 

Morning and afternoon clinics, a mix of both face to face and telephone consultations provided by specialist consultants and experienced specialist nurses.

Monday evening Nurse led clinics

Emergency walk-in appointments

Phlebotomy only clinics

Medication and Adherence

Referral pathways and links to other hospital specialties
accessed by the patient

Lifestyle and Wellbeing Clinics

During opening times the Oak Clinic can be contacted on 01384 456111 ext. 3919

Opening Times:

Monday 9.00am-7pm

Tuesday 9.00am-5pm

Wednesday 9.00am-5.00pm

Thursday 9.00am-5.00pm

Friday 09.00-1pm

Zenker’s diverticulum (pharyngeal pouch) (ZD)

Zenker’s diverticulum is a rare, benign condition. In this condition, a large sac develops in the upper part of the oesophagus (gullet/food pipe), known medically as a pharyngeal pouch. This results because of muscle spasm in at the beginning of gullet.

The Gastroenterology (GI) Unit consists of a dedicated team of nursing, clerical and portering staff who are committed to providing quality care within a friendly, relaxed, safe and supportive environment.

The majority of endoscopies are booked as outpatient procedures, however ward patients requiring endoscopy are offered appointments in addition to booked lists. Hospitalised patients requiring emergency endoscopy are cared for by an on-call endoscopy team who cover out-of-hours during the week and weekends, providing and delivering a service 365 days a year.

Endoscopic procedures performed in the unit:

• Gastroscopy
• Flexible sigmoidscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Enteroscopy
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography
• Endoscopic Ultrasound
• Bronchoscopy
• Endo-Bronchial Ultrasound
• Thoracoscopy
• Wireless Capsule Endoscopy

Each patient attending the unit is treated as an individual and all GI Unit staff have the highest regard for maintaining patient privacy and dignity at all times.

The GI Unit staff continually strive to ensure that the patient journery is smooth, organised and efficient and, during this process, Essence of Care plays a lead role in the planning, delivery and after-care of all patients attending the unit.

The team works closely with staff and other departments throughout the hospital, in particular specialist nurses such as Colorectal, Upper GI, Nutrition, Inflammatory Bowel and the Dietician team. This allows continuity of care for all patients and their carers requiring specialist advice and support when required.

If English is not your first language, please contact the department before you visit so we can organise for a translator to be present at your appointment.

We aim to empower people to gain freedom from their symptoms and improve the quality of their lives.

We believe EVERYONE should have the opportunity to receive advice, treatment and rehabilitation to improve their bladder and bowel symptoms, and their quality of life.

These health problems can seriously, and negatively impact on the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of affected individuals.

The Continence service for Bladder and Bowel Service will look at referrals for people aged 18+ who wish to receive specialist support and advice with bladder and bowel problems.

Information about the service

We are a specialist stroke pathway in Dudley Rehabilitation Service (DRS), providing rehabilitation for patients who have had a stroke. The team consists of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, therapy assistants and administrative support. We treat patients in their place of residence and at Corbett Rehab Centre in Corbett Ambulatory Care Centre.  We work towards patient centred goals and liaise closely with all other members of the multi disciplinary team, including social services and the voluntary sector to assist with rehabilitation needs.

The referrals to the service can be made by  GP, hospital staff, nursing homes, other healthcare professionals, the Dudley Stroke Association, and social services.

Patients who have previously received therapy from our service can contact us directly.

We are the specialist Community Rehab and Falls pathway in DRS.

The team is made up of  occupational therapists, physiotherapists, therapy assistants and falls nurses.

We provide comprehensive assessments including multifactorial falls risk assessments and treatment. We aim to enable individuals to maximise their mobility, range of movement, and activities of daily living to promote independence and quality of life. Individual rehabilitation goals are set as part of the assessment and reviewed as necessary.

Patients are seen in their place of residence or in Corbett Rehab Centre in Corbett Ambulatory Care Centre.

Patients are seen individually and in groups sessions as necessary.

Referrals are accepted from consultants, GPs, Dudley Falls Prevention (Standing Together) and other healthcare professionals.

Working hours

The team works  Monday to Friday, 08.30am until 4.30pm, excluding bank holidays. We are not an emergency service. Outside of these hours, or in an emergency, please contact your GP, NHS 111 or visit your local walk-in centre or urgent care centre.