You will need inpatient care if you stay overnight or longer in hospital. This could be for treatment, monitoring or recovery.
Inpatient appointments take place at lots of our sites. Click here for details on where our sites are.
If you have an inpatient appointment you will be sent a letter. Please read this letter before you visit. It will have important information that’s specific to you.
More useful information to help you plan your visit is below.
Click here for information on how to get to our locations. There is information on public transport and parking.
The North East Ambulance Service provides pre-planned transport for non-emergency patients. You can use this service if you have a medical condition that stops you getting to and from hospital by any other means. You can find out more by clicking this link.
If you are under the care of a consultant and claim certain benefits, you might be eligible for a refund of your travel costs. Call 0845 850 1166 for advice or click to visit our Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme page.
When you arrive, you will be admitted. This is like being checked in. How we do that may be different depending on the hospital or the ward.
Before your appointment you will get a letter. This will tell you where you should go. You should make your way straight there. If you are unsure or need help, speak to our reception teams.
When you get to the ward, you must make sure you wash your hands using soap and water or hand gel.
This is very important. It will help stop the spread of infections.
Then, let a member of staff know you are there. Give them any medications you have. You might have been asked to fill in some documents before arriving. If you have, give these to them too. Our staff will then show you where to go. They will also help you get comfortable.
While you’re in hospital you will be looked after by a named nurse. They will check your medical history and do an examination. You will be given an identity bracelet with your name on. You must keep this on while you are in hospital.
During your stay a team of people will care for you. This might include doctors, nurses, therapists and radiographers. Usually a consultant will be responsible for your care. But if you have concerns or questions, you can speak to any members of our team.
If you can’t make it to hospital when you need to be here, call the phone number on your letter as soon as possible. We will then be able to offer your slot to someone else.
You can also contact the ward through our switchboards:
You will receive a letter before your appointment. This will tell you if there is anything specific you need to bring with you.
We would recommend you also bring:
If you forget something, don’t worry. Speak to our team and they will try to help.
We do our very best to make sure our wards are safe and secure. However, our buildings are open to everyone so we cannot accept liability for anything that is lost or stolen.
We would recommend leaving the below things at home:
We understand that you might want to bring your mobile phone or tablet with you. As these are valuable items, we wouldn’t recommend it. If you do bring these in, it is up to you to look after them.
Yes. We prepare a variety of fresh meals on site every day.
You will be asked to choose your meals from a menu in advance. Drinks will be served with meals and are available at other times throughout the day.
If you have dietary requirements or needs, let us know. We can make sure your meals are suitable.
Many of our wards have protected meal times. This means we try to limit activity on our wards during this time. This is because food and drink are important for helping patients recover. Our staff will still be available to help during this time.
Yes. You will have access to TV and radio during your stay.
Radio channels are free all day, every day. We have hospital radio stations at both South Tyneside and Sunderland.
You can watch TV for free every day during these times:
Outside these hours, you can pay to watch TV.
If you’re on an elderly care ward or in hospital for a long time, you may also be able to watch free TV for longer. Speak to our teams to find out.
We understand that you might want to bring your mobile phone with you. As a valuable item, we wouldn’t recommend it.
If you do bring your phone in, please follow the below rules:
It’s very important for us to protect the privacy of our patients and staff. Sharing details or images of someone could put their safety at risk.
No. You cannot smoke anywhere on any of our sites.
For more information, click here.
No. You cannot drink alcohol on any of our sites.
Alcohol could affect your treatment. If you have had alcohol before arriving to hospital, you must make one of the team aware.
If you need help during your stay please let us know beforehand. Our team is always happy to help.
You might need a translator or some help getting around the department. Whatever your need, call us.
Click here to find our contact details. There may also be a phone number on your letter. You can also let us know if you need help when you arrive.
If you or your loved one has learning disabilities, our Acute Liaison Service is here to support you. You can find out more by clicking this link.
All information about your treatment is confidential. We will only discuss it with you, unless you ask us to share this with someone else. Sometimes we may need to share information with close family members. We will only do this with your permission.
We have the facilities to make sure patients admitted to our hospitals only share the room they sleep in with members of the same sex. This is a Government’s requirement.
Sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen if:
Most patients will always be in same-sex accommodation. There may be times where this is not possible.
For example, in our Critical Care Unit. This is when we must prioritise clinical needs to make sure you’re treated as quick as possible. When we can, we will inform you or your family of this before you arrive.
We will always try to maintain your privacy and dignity in these situations. For example, we may use screens or curtains. You will then be moved to a same-sex area as soon as it is safe to do so.
