Information About the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit

The following information is provided to help patients settle into the Unit more easily. If any of this information is not clear please ask a member of staff to explain further.
As this is a rehabilitation unit, there are some differences in the way patients are managed from how they were managed in the acute ward.

Q. When can patients receive phone calls?

It is best to ring between 9.00am and 8.00pm. There are fewer nursing staff on duty outside these hours and patient care is given first priority; this is why they do not have time to transfer personal calls.

There is a public phone in the foyer. You will need to purchase a phone card.

Q. What are the visiting hours?

Liverpool Hospital visiting hours are between 10.00am and 8.00pm.

These visiting times can be flexible. If there is a need to visit outside of these hours do not hesitate to speak to the Nursing Unit Manager or the nurse in charge of that shift.

Between 12.30pm and 1.30pm patients are eating lunch or being fed by the nursing staff. We encourage family members not to be in the dining room during tis time as patients are up to different stages with their feeding and can be distracted or feel uncomfortable and embarrassed if family members are present.

Q. Why is the front door of the unit locked at 5.30pm?

We are located in an isolated area of the hospital grounds. The door has to be locked at 5.30pm because of security reasons. the door is also locked at all times during the weekend.

There is a button located at the right of the door. Please press this and the staff will open the door ASAP. Please be patient on the weekends as there is less staff and it may take longer to open the door.

Q. What do we need to bring from home?

The patient should bring their own soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, talc, hairbrush/comb, track pants, shorts, T-shirts, sloppy joe, socks and shoes. We encourage patients to wear day clothes.

Q. Can we bring in a radio, television, etc.?

We encourage family members to bring in items that are familiar to the patient. Many long term patients bring in posters, photos, music, fluffy toys, etc. If you are unsure about a particular item then ask the Nursing unit Manager.

Q. Can I have my own room?

There are no private rooms in the BIRU and single rooms are allocated according to patient's conditions. Room moves are necessary and at least 80% of patients experience this.

Q. Can I wash patient's clothes in the unit?

The washing machine and dryer in the unit are for hospital items (eg. chest restraints). If you are unable to take the patient's washing home then arrangements can be made for a launderer to collect the washing.

Q. Is there a place for relatives to relax?

The 'Relatives Lounge' is a place where relatives can have a quiet break from the ward and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. please feel free to use this when you need time out. We ask that you don't take patients into the Relatives Lounge. There is also a cafeteria and florist in the main hospital building.

Q. Is there a place where we can go to pray?

There is a non-denominational Christian Chapel as well as a Moslem Prayer Room located nearby in the hospital.

Other information about the Inpatient Unit:

• Where possible, patients are encouraged to sit out of bed during the day for increasing periods of time. This helps to reduce medical complications.
  
• Patients wear casual clothes during the day rather than wearing pyjamas/ nightdresses. Comfortable clothing such as a tracksuit is ideal, particularly when the patient is attending physiotherapy.
  
• Patients often do not have any insight into their problems and therefore do not understand why they need to attend therapy. It helps staff if relatives/friends encourage the patient to attend therapy. It is often preferable if visitors come to see the patient at a time when they are not in therapy as patients often try to use the fact that they have visitors as an excuse for not attending therapy.
  
• One of  the aims of rehabilitation is to help patients to be as independent as possible therefore we ask relatives to encourage the patient to do things for him/herself rather than you do everything for them. If you are not sure what the patient is capable of doing check with the therapy or nursing staff.
  
• The Unit has only a limited number of single rooms, therefore, it is not possible for each patient to have a single room. Allocation of rooms is carried out according to the needs of the patients (e.g. patients requiring more intensive nursing care or have special needs) and at times it may be necessary to move a patient to another room when new patients are admitted or there is a change in a patients condition. 
  
• In the early stages of recovery when the patient is confused you may be asked to limit visitors to two at a time as patients often become agitated or very tired when there are too many visitors at once.
  
• Hospital policy does not allow smoking inside the building. The courtyard in the barbecue area is also a non-smoking area. Patients and visitors may smoke in the other three courtyards. We would appreciate it if you could use the ashtrays which have been placed in the courtyards.
  
• There is a telephone beside each patient's bed which is for incoming calls. The nursing staff will tell you the extension number of your phone.  Outgoing calls can be made from the public telephone in the entrance foyer. As the staff cannot provide change for this phone it is easier for patients to have a phone card.
  
• After a patient has been assessed a therapy timetable will be placed on the noticeboard in his /her room. This will help family and friends to plan their visiting outside therapy times.
  
• The staff specialists in charge of the patients do a weekly ward round on Mondays between 2:00pm and 3:30pm. Relatives are welcome to be present if they wish to speak to the doctors, in brief.

We hope that each patient has as pleasant a stay as possible and if you or your family are unhappy about any issues we would appreciate it if you would talk to one of the following people:
Warwick - Nursing Unit Manager
Danielle - Social Worker
Anne - Inpatient Programme Co-ordinator

Last modified: Thursday, 20 April 2006