Family information

Family and friends are actively encouraged to support you in your rehabilitation.

It is helpful if families can identify a nominated spokesperson who will be a main point of contact for the ward. This helps the team to deliver consistent communication.  It is that person’s responsibility to disseminate information to the rest of the family.

Please take a look at the following guidance:

Personal items

Home clothing is worn on the ward and a small wardrobe is provided for storage.

Please bring appropriate clothing, footwear and toiletries for the person you are visiting

This helps our patients not to feel ‘hospitalised’, helps with their mood and is more dignified for them.

Please ensure clothes are taken home for laundry and restocked regularly.

Supportive shoes such as trainers or slippers with backs are recommended.

Oxford Health cannot be held responsible for any loss of personal belongings Valuables can be stored in the hospital safe in necessary.

Mealtimes and food

The patients’ meals we serve every day are carefully prepared and designed to offer patients a healthy balanced diet of set selected menus with a range of hot and cold food and drinks.

Please always check with staff if you want to bring in food or drink to the ward and read this leaflet first: Bringing food into hospital

On arrival at the ward all food gifts should be declared. An appropriately trained nurse will check the food is suitable for the patient, check containers and labelling. Risk of allergy and swallow ability will be reviewed, and any new recommendations will be highlighted.

We operate a protected mealtime policy.  This means that whilst patients are having their meals, all non-essential activities on the ward will stop to reduce interruptions.  The nurses, Healthcare assistants and nutrition assistants will be available to help those patients who require extra support with eating and drinking during these times.

We kindly ask that visitors speak to the ward coordinator about whether it would be beneficial to be present during mealtimes.  Often, those who have had a stroke can experience difficulties around eating and drinking due to altered swallow and cognition.  Therefore, having fewer people present can help reduce distractions and allows for a calmer environment for patients to eat and drink.

Please also avoid calling us during mealtimes where possible.

Meals are served at the following times:

• Breakfast – 8am
• Lunch – 12noon
• Dinner – 5:30pm

Drinks and snacks are available to patients throughout the day

Visitors

Visitors are welcome between 11am and 8pm outside of mealtimes but there should not be more than two visitors per patient at one time.

We understand that flowers can brighten your stay, and we do allow them.

However, we kindly ask that patients and visitors remember that flowers can make it challenging to maintain a clean and tidy clinical environment.

Additionally, many of our patients have electronic medical devices by their bedside, and there is a risk of water from the flowers spilling onto these devices.

If you choose to bring flowers, we recommend using sealed containers or “oasis” arrangements to help ensure everything remains safe and clean.