Your stay at hospital

As an inpatient we want your stay at hospital to be a pleasant one. If you need to stay in one of our hospitals for treatment or a procedure these pages will help you prepare for your visit. 

We've put together this guide to help anyone visiting a patient at Croydon University Hospital.

This is a summary of key information, and more detail can be found within the Patients and Visitors section of our website. You can also view a map of our hospital departments by clicking in the site plan on the right hand side

Clinical procedures or ward rounds

Only visitors or carers requested by the patient may remain present for clinical procedures or ward rounds. 

Visiting times

Most wards allow visiting between the hours of 2pm and 5pm and again between 6pm and 8pm, but please ask the ward sister or charge nurse if you want visitors at other times and we will try to arrange it as long as it does not interfere with your care of the care of others in the ward.
 
All our wards offer a “protected mealtimes” system where disruptions and distractions during the main mealtimes are kept to a minimum to allow patients time to eat undisturbed. If you are visiting a friend or relative during mealtimes you will be asked to either help them with their meal or, if you are unable to do this, to leave the ward until the meal is over.
 
We know that having visitors can help someone’s recovery but we also need to respect the privacy and dignity of all our patients. Unless there are special circumstances we ask that you keep to just two visitors per patient at any one time please. 
 
Noise levels should be kept to a minimum, to enable all patients and visitors to enjoy their time together and also to allow other patients to rest.
 
Please do not sit on beds as this can lead to cross infection.
 
Parents and guardians, please remember it is your responsibility to supervise your children at all times. Do not allow them to run around.

Wi-fi access

Wi-fi is available for our patients and visitors. For more information visit our Free wi-fi page.

Car parking

We have about 400 car parking spaces at Croydon University Hospital, with several car parks for patients and visitors, and others set aside for staff.

We are increasing the number of disabled parking spaces available at the hospital from 15 to 19 spaces.  This will increase further to a total of 21 when our new Emergency Departments opens later in the year.

There are no car parking charges for Blue Badge holders who park in the disabled bays at Croydon University Hospital. However, if the disabled spaces are in use and Blue Badge holders park in other car spaces on the hospital site, please be aware that hourly parking charges will apply.

Parking on yellow lines is not permitted.

There are drop-off zones near the main entrance, maternity, the Woodcroft Road entrance and day surgery. These offer free parking for 10 minutes.

All other car parking is charged at the following rates. These charges are in line with neighbouring NHS Trusts:

0-1 hour £3.00
1-2 hours £4.80
2-3 hours £6.50
3-4 hours £8.00
4-5 hours £10.00
5-24 hours £12.00

Our parking machines accept debit/credit card payments or small change and will require you to enter your car registration number.

If you are visiting someone who is seriously ill and likely to be in hospital for a long time, please speak to the nurse in charge of the ward who can make arrangements for you to obtain a weekly permit at a cost of £10.

Special permits are also available for families of children attending the Dolphin Unit and birth partners of women in labour.

There are separate arrangements handled on a case by case basis for people with long term conditions such as cancer and those who are delayed due to clinic overruns. Please enquire.

Revenue generated from parking charges is used to pay for car park maintenance, management of the service and travel plan initiatives. All profits are reinvested into clinical services.

We use security guards and CCTV cameras to monitor the car parks and visitor and patient safety. In 2017, we were awarded a Safer Parking Award by British Parking Association. We also hold an Award of Excellence issued by the Disabled Parking Accreditation. This will next be reviewed in December 2018.

Personal property

Whilst we are caring for people we are not able to provide a general property management service.

We will not accept liability for loss and damage to any property and belongings unless they have been handed over for safe keeping to our staff and a receipt has been issued to you or your relative.

We strongly advise that people think carefully about what property they bring into hospital. Valuable property which we do hold on your behalf will not be immediately accessible.

It would be advisable to take home valuable or sentimental property for patients, rather than keep them at the hospital. Any retained property will be kept for only three months before being disposed of.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones can be used in most areas of our hospitals – please look out for signs which indicate where mobile phones and other electronic devices are restricted. If you are unsure, please check with staff to see if you can use mobile phones in the ward or area you are in.

Mobile phones can be a nuisance to other patients, visitors or staff, we ask you to please switch your phone to ‘silent’ while in clinical areas wherever possible and to hold any mobile phone conversations away from sleeping patients or treatment areas.

Where patients or visitors are using devices to watch or listen to recordings, please use earphones at all times. We request that use be limited to avoid disturbing other patients. Mobile phone chargers must be tested by the Facilities Department before being used.

Filming and photography

We understand that mobile phones and other devices are essential to maintain communication with friends, family and loved ones. Please remember that patients and visitors are responsible and personally liable for their actions and we ask that if patients or visitors wish to take photographs during their stay for any reason, care and consideration for the privacy and dignity of other patients, visitors and staff should be given at all times.

Photographs and recordings made on the hospital site should not capture other patients, visitors or staff, unless you have their explicit consent. If a member of staff has reason to believe that inappropriate images or recordings have been made without explicit consent of those involved, we may ask to check your devices and ask you to delete images or social media posts. Refusal to do so may result in further action being taken.

Please remember that any comments or social media posts which are discriminatory, racist or defamatory in nature will be reported to the police for investigation.

For obvious reasons we restrict filming and photography on our children's ward - please ask the ward staff for advice.

Patients and visitors using the Trust’s free wi-fi service must conform to the terms and conditions of use.

Refreshments

Refreshments are not routinely provided to visitors on the wards but there are plenty of outlets in the main foyer and in the restaurant on the first floor where refreshements can be bought.

Perishable food and drink

Please let staff know if you bring in any perishable food or drink. This is to ensure it meets the patients care plan requirements/medical directions. Food brought in to the hospital cannot be stored or heated/ re heated in the ward kitchen.

Flowers

Flowers are welcome on most of our wards as long as they are in oasis (foam) or any other small sealed arrangement. Small potted plants are also welcome.

No cut flowers in vases are allowed at the bedside as they could be spilled onto beds, patients, staff or medical equipment. There is also a very slight risk of infection from organisms which grow in water if it is left too long.

On a very few wards, for the safety and comfort of the patients, no flowers are allowed at all. These wards are:

• Intensive Care Unit
• Cardiac Care Unit
• High Dependency Unit
• Acute Medical Unit (AMU)
• Accident & Emergency (A&E)
• Heathfield 2

On these wards the bedside space is needed for equipment and staff access and Heathfield 2 is the ward where people with chest problems are treated and their condition may be made worse by pollen or other plant matter.

Shops and restaurants

The hospital main entrance at Croydon University Hospital has a shopping area which includes a Marks and Spencer, Costa coffee, Lloyds Pharmacy, food outlets and a clothes shop.
 
On the first floor you will find Oasis restaurant with a wide selection of hot and cold food and drink .

Opening hours

Weekdays – 7.30am – 8pm
Weekends – 7.30am – 6pm
 
Hot food served:

Breakfast – 7.30am -10am
Lunch – 12pm -3pm
Dinner – 5pm – 7pm (6pm on weekends)

Hand gel

The hand gel is provided for everyone to use. Please use the gel on entering and leaving the ward. Children should only use the gel under supervision of their parents or guardian. 

Any questions?

When you visit the ward you will find more information on noticeboards and in a folder beside every bed. If you have any more questions please ask any member of staff on the ward. 

Help for non English speakers

We can arrange for face to face Interpretors for any one who needs this service. If the person you are visiting has language or literacy problems please let a member of staff know so arrangements can be made.