During your stay in hospital you will
meet different members of staff, wearing different coloured
uniforms. These colours and what they represent will be explained
to you on the ward.
All staff should be wearing an
identification badge giving their name and job title. Not all staff
wear uniforms.
Your doctor
Your medical care will be under the direction
of a Consultant (senior doctor) whose name is written on the board
at the top of your bed. The Consultant will visit you on the ward
with other doctors and decide on the course of your treatment. A
Registrar and/or a Senior House Officer assist(s) the Consultant. A
House Officer also works with the Consultant in Surgery and General
Medicine. Whilst in hospital, if you wish to have a confidential
discussion with the Consultant, please ask a member of the ward
staff if this can be arranged.
Your nurse
You will be allocated a nurse who is
responsible for co-ordinating your nursing care. She or he is your
named nurse and you can speak to them if you need any information
about your treatment or care. Other nursing staff will also help in
your care. At the start of every shift, the nurse looking after you
will introduce herself or himself to you.
Ward sister / charge nurse
Every ward has a sister or charge nurse, who
is responsible for the overall management of the ward. Their
uniform is navy blue with white piping. Please ask to see them if
you have any concerns during your stay on the ward.
Divisional nurse ('modern matron')
A Divisional nurse manages a group of wards.
You may ask to see the Divisional nurse if you have a problem that
the ward staff cannot help with.
Other staff
Other staff you may often see on the ward are
physiotherapists (white tunics, navy trousers), pharmacists (no
uniform), dietitians (no uniform), nurse specialists (lilac
uniforms), practice education staff (turquoise uniforms),
healthcare assistants (pink striped uniforms) and porters (pale
blue shirts, navy sweatshirts, navy trousers). All staff will be
wearing some form of identification but please ask if you are
unsure who a member of staff is.
Useful Contacts
Hospital switchboard (general enquiries)
0118 322 5111
Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
0118 322 8338