Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Chesterman Cardio-thoracic Progressive Care Unit - Thoracic Northern General Hospital Information for patients Telephone numbers: Chesterman 3 0114 271 4335 PCU 0114 271 5774 / 271 4330 Switchboard 0114 243 4343 Welcome to the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) Your relative is being cared for on the Progressive Care Unit, because they need closer observation and more specialised nursing care than can be provided at ward level. PCU is a six bedded unit located between chesterman 3 and 4, generally caring for patients after cardio-thoracic (heart or lung) surgery. One nurse will typically care for two patients on the unit. Visiting times Visiting times are from 2pm to 3:30pm and from 6pm to 8pm daily. This allows patients to eat their meals without being disturbed. Many patients will not want constant visitors throughout this time as it can be tiring, especially in the early days. Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted within the unit. Please report to the nurse before entering the unit. You may be required to wait while certain procedures or treatments are completed. We ask that there are only two visitors at any one time, at each bed for safety reasons due to limited space. Further visitors can wait in the day room provided. We are constantly trying to reduce the risk of infection to our patients so as well as using the alcohol hand rub we request that you use the green visitors chairs provided, please do not use the patient’s chair or bed. For this reason flowers are also not permitted on the unit. Information If you wish to enquire about your relatives progress while you are visiting, please speak to the nurse caring for them, or nurse in charge. If you wish to speak to a doctor, this can be arranged. However you may need to make an appointment. Personal property There is very little space in the unit to store belongings, therefore only wash things and immediate 'in use' items such as a book, glasses, slippers and night wear etc are kept in the unit, either on the table or in a basket at the end of the bed. There are lockers provided on Chesterman 3 and 4 where we can store one small bag per patient. The Day of Surgery We ask that one person is identified as the primary contact to phone regarding the patient’s condition, and family and friends will then go through them for information. Please take advice from ward staff as to what time to phone the unit. This should be from 13:30 onwards, if your relative is not first on the list this could be much later. We ask that relatives wishing to visit the first night, limit the number of visitors and visit for a limited time only to allow the patient to rest following their operation. Enquiries On the days following your relative's surgery again please try to limit the number of enquiries. Due to patient confidentiality the nurses are unable to give detailed information over the phone to anyone other than the primary contacts. Transfer to the Ward When your relative is ready to be transferred back to the ward we will inform you during your routine enquiries. Floor plan Level D Progressive Care Unit Chesterman 4 Chesterman 3 Day Room Reception Chesterman X-ray Kitchen Entrance Produced with support from Sheffield Hospitals Charity – working hard to fund improvements that make life better for patients and their families Please donate to help us do more www.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk Registered Charity No 1059043 Alternative formats may be available on request. Please email: [email protected] © Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2013. Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the “Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005” SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Email [email protected] PD5737-PIL2076 v2 Issue date: Julyl 2013. Review date: July 2015