Inpatient information

Your visit

If you're having a procedure or admitted for medical investigations to a HCA UK hospital and are staying with us for one night or more, you'll be admitted as an inpatient.

What to do before you arrive 

Fill in your patient registration form

The more you tell us about yourself before you arrive, the more we can tailor our service to you. You will be send guidance on how to complete and access our patient registration form prior to your admission. If you are admitted at short notice your registration will be done when you arrive at hospital.

Fill in your health assessment questionnaire

By providing us with important information about your health, our consultants and nurse specialists can identify issues that may lead to a delay in your treatment.

Female patient in bed 904794462.jpg

Coming into hospital

What to bring with you

Each of our en-suite rooms are filled with home comforts, like complimentary wi-fi, satellite television and a telephone. We also recommend bringing the following with you: 

  • comfortable clothes to wear after your procedure
  • wide-fitting clothes if you're having vein, knee or ankle surgery
  • books, magazines and other things to pass the time
  • any personal medication
  • any previous X-rays
  • mobile phone (although, in some areas of the hospital, using a mobile phone is not allowed) 

What not to bring

We recommend you do not bring any of the following with you:

  • valuables like jewellery or unnecessary cheque books or bank cards (the hospital will not assume liability for these)
  • large amounts of food
  • large sums of cash

    • If you need to bring certain valuables into the hospital, please make sure that you are fully covered by your own insurance. Small items can be locked away in our hospital safe. The safe can be accessed between 9.00am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

    FAQS

    Having inpatient treatment 

    If you require an interpreter during your visit, please contact our pre-admissions team before you arrive and they will arrange for one you. You can reach them on 020 7908 3650.

    You may have been asked to fast before your procedure. Fasting means not eating or drinking for a certain amount of time. Fasting is usually necessary for surgical procedures involving a general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep. Your consultant will let you know how long you need to fast for during your pre-operation screening, which will normally happen at a date prior to your actual operation.

    After reporting to our main reception, we'll ask you to confirm your personal details, as well as your next-of-kin details.

    If you are insured, we'll also ask you to provide us with your authorisation from your insurance company. If you are paying for yourself, we'll most likely ask you to settle your account before you leave. A friendly member of staff will then show you to your room.

    A nurse will then visit you in your room to make sure that you're settling in okay. They'll also take your medical history, temperature and blood pressure. If you've brought any X-rays or medication with you, please give these to your nurse. And please let them know if you have any allergies.

    The consultant who arranged your admission will oversee your clinical care throughout your stay. They or your nurse will also be on-hand to answer any questions you have. You can also expect:

    • access to a qualified doctor, 24 hours a day
    • access to intensive care specialists, 24 hours a day
    • nurse specialists to provide pre- and -post procedure care and support
    • fully-trained ward nurses
    • on-site pharmacists

    If you follow a particular diet, for religious or other reasons, our meals can be adapted to suit your needs. Simply send an email to our Business Office team with your dietary requirements prior to your arrival.

    We welcome visitor to come and see you, these are our general guidance for the visiting. Please be aware hours may differ from this guidance in some areas of care.

    • Visiting hours are between 10.00am and 8.00pm
    • No more than three visitors at any one time on wards and two when visiting patients on an Intensive Care Unit
    • Visitors are unable to stay overnight
    • Do not visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell
    • Everyone is to respect the HCA UK pledge

    If you are staying with us overnight your consultant and nurse will be able to advise an approximate time of discharge once you have arrived, inpatients are discharged after the consultant have seen you and assessed your recovery. If you are staying with us for a longer period of time, you will be give an approximate discharge date, and your consultant or nursing team will keep you updated during your recovery, about your progress and the day of discharge. You may not always feel well enough to drive or take public transport, so we'd recommend you arrange for someone to pick you up. If this isn’t possible, we will arrange a taxi for you.

    If you've accrued extra charges during your stay, you can pay for them before you leave at the Cashier's Office, in most our hospital this is usually on the ground floor near the entrance. If you're not able to do this when you leave, we can send settle your outstanding balance online, or by post or email.