Winstanley Ward v3

• Author ID:      HW/DD
• Leaflet ref:     Win 001
• Version:         3
• Leaflet title:    Winstanley Ward
• Last review:    March 2022
• Expiry date:    March 2024

Wrightington Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are committed to designing services that put our patients at the centre of everything we do.
This leaflet has been designed to inform you about what you can expect during your admission to Winstanley Ward.

Welcome to Winstanley Ward

Winstanley ward is based at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary with the purpose of providing care to meet the needs of patients who are symptomatic of or have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The area provides a light and spacious environment to support patient’s wellbeing and recovery. 

The ward contains a 10 bedded bay, two 7 bedded bays and 3 side rooms. 

Why have I been transferred to Winstanley Ward?

You will be transferred to Winstanley Ward if you are experiencing symptoms of or test positive for COVID-19.

The Team

Winstanley Ward consists of a team of experienced respiratory consultants and doctors, a Matron, a Ward Manager, Deputy Ward Managers, Staff Nurses, Assistant Practitioners, Health Care Assistants, Housekeepers and Ward Clerks.

Other specialists will also be available should you require them.

We all work together to provide you with quality first class care.

What can I expect during my admission to Winstanley Ward?

The patient cohort will be from a wide range of specialties and subspecialties and patients will be transferred from other wards in the hospital if deemed appropriate by clinician, registrar level or above. Admissions will not take place directly from A&E.

After initial assessment of your condition and appropriate treatment initiated, your plan of care and progress will be continually assessed by members of the multidisciplinary team including nurses, doctors and therapy team members to ensure all your care needs are met.

Staff will wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when they are treating you, which includes a mask, apron/gown and gloves. This is to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. Communication between staff and patients whilst PPE is worn can sometimes be challenging. The team will make every effort to ensure you are aware of who everyone is and their role by writing their name and job title clearly on their apron/gown. You will also be offered other modes of communication if you are finding hearing staff difficult. These will include iPad and pen and paper 

The team will ensure that you are treated with compassion and dignity and we will treat you as an individual at all times.

Privacy and dignity

Winstanley Ward is made up of a number of bays and every effort will be made to care for male and female patients in segregated areas. It remains the aim of staff to meet this standard for single sex areas wherever possible, however due to the unpredictable nature of the illness, unfortunately this cannot always be guaranteed and there may be occasions where areas could become mixed sex. In this event, staff will take every precaution to maintain the privacy of patients in mixed sex areas through the use of screens or curtains, especially when providing aspects of care.

We would like to reassure you that safeguarding your privacy and dignity is a high priority for all our staff, and if you have any anxieties at all, speak to the nurse looking after you.

Visiting 

All staff appreciate the worry involved for family members and friends when their loved ones are admitted into hospital, however to protect the wellbeing of all our patients and staff, we do not allow visiting on Winstanley Ward with exceptions given to patients with learning disabilities and patients who are at the end of their life. Staff will discuss exceptions for visiting with patients and their families on an individual basis.  

The limitations on being able to visit can be upsetting and therefore a new mailbox has been set up for friends and families to send messages to patients via email.  The messages are printed and delivered to the ward, where possible.

The email address to use is: MyMessageTo.MyLovedOne@wwl.nhs.uk

Meal times

The catering department provides three meals per day, i.e. breakfast, lunch and evening meal. A selection of sandwiches and salads are also available. If you have any specific dietary needs such as vegetarian or gluten free for example, please tell a member of staff as soon as possible after your arrival. Meal times are protected and therefore, unless there is an urgent clinical requirement, no medical procedures or visiting (if granted in exceptional circumstances) will be permitted during this time. 

On discharge

Once you are ready to leave the ward, we will discuss your plan of care with you and make you aware of any follow up care if required.

We will also send a copy of this information to your GP.

Please do not hesitate to alert a member of staff if you have any questions about your care.

No smoking policy

The trust operates a no smoking policy. There is no facility for smoking on any hospital site and this includes electronic cigarettes. Please do not smoke in the hospital or in its grounds.