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Health and well-being

Health and well-being

Hospitals

Treatment and appointments at NHS hospitals are free for all UK residents. Find out more about the hospital admissions system in England, choosing your hospital, waiting times and your stay in hospital, as well as what to do if you have a complaint about a hospital or your treatment.

Choosing your hospital

If you and your GP (or other healthcare professional) decide that you need to see a specialist for further treatment you will be given a choice of at least four hospitals or clinics.

Your GP, or staff at the surgery, will give you a booklet called 'Choosing your hospital' which contains information about your local hospitals, including comparisons. When you search for your local hospital on the NHS website and view your options, you can download a pdf version of the booklet for your area. You may also find it useful to consult your local patient support service whose telephone number will be listed in booklet. 

If you decide that you do not wish to choose at all, your GP can make the decision for you.

Being admitted to hospital

If you need to be admitted to a hospital, your GP, dentist or other health professional will arrange this for you. You may be admitted to a hospital that is a centre for specialised care if you require complex treatment.

You can be admitted to a hospital, depending on the nature of tests or treatment that you require, as either:

  • an outpatient - you are referred, eg by your local doctor, to see a hospital consultant for a specialist opinion, without the need for a hospital bed
  • a day patient/day case - you need a hospital bed for tests or surgery, but do not need to stay overnight for surgery
  • an inpatient - you need a hospital bed because you have to stay in hospital for tests or surgery

Arranging an appointment

If you are an outpatient you should be able to book a convenient appointment either online through the 'Choose and Book' service (in England only) or through the hospital's own booking service. Alternatively, you may be asked to telephone the hospital yourself to arrange an appointment on a convenient day.

You will be told what will happen during and after your appointment and a telephone number will be provided for you to ring if you have any questions. Your hospital will then write to you with details of your appointment including the date, time and directions.

Waiting times for treatment

Waiting times for hospital treatment vary but you should expect to wait no longer than:

  • 13 weeks for your first outpatient appointment
  • six months for inpatient treatment
  • two weeks to see a specialist if your doctor or dentist refers you urgently with suspected cancer
  • two months for an urgent GP referral for cancer treatment
  • one month from the date of diagnosis with cancer to treatment
  • two weeks for a specialist chest pains clinic, if you are suffering from chest pains and angina is suspected

By December 2008, patients will be guaranteed a maximum of 18 weeks (known as the 'pathway') between referral and the start of treatment.

Staying overnight at hospital

If you are admitted as an inpatient at a hospital, it's recommended that you bring the following:

  • personal toiletries
  • nightdress or pyjamas
  • dressing gown
  • a pair of slippers
  • any equipment that you use, such as a walking or hearing aid
  • any medication that you are taking, or information detailing current treatment

What to expect in hospital

Your nurse, or doctor, will clarify what is wrong with you and explain the treatment that needs to be carried out. You can then discuss the treatment and if you decide to proceed, you will be required to give written consent. You'll be involved in all decisions regarding your treatment throughout your stay in hospital.

Staff will, at your request, ensure a friend or relative is kept informed of your progress. Your privacy will also be respected and you will be able to see your records if you wish. The doctors and nurses treating you will be sensitive to your religious, spiritual and cultural needs. Your healthcare is the priority, and the treatment you receive will not be affected by gender, sexuality, age or disability.

Efforts will also be made to offer you a bed on a single sex ward where possible and any dietary requirements will be assessed.

Making a complaint

If you are not satisfied with the level of care you receive in hospital, you need to contact the hospital you are unhappy with to try to resolve the matter. If you are still not satisfied you should contact a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) representative at your hospital or Primary Care Trust.

If you are still unhappy, you can ask for an independent review panel to assess your case. This must be submitted within 28 days of the written reply to your complaint, and is dealt with by a non-executive member of the NHS Health Authority.

If you are still unsatisfied with the outcome, you should contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

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