Inpatients

We aim to make your stay in our hospital as comfortable and trouble free as possible. If you have any concerns at all please speak to your ward sister, matron or Head of Nursing or ask for a visit from the PALS Officer who is on hand to provide you and your carers with a wide range of support and advice.

Family and friends

If your main carer would like to continue to help with your care during your hospital stay please ask the nurse in charge - we would be delighted if they could help at meal times or with personal hygiene. Relatives of seriously ill patients are also welcome to stay at their bedside and parents are very welcome to stay with their children.

If your relatives or friends need to travel long distances in order to visit, they may be able to stay in our accommodation complex opposite the hospital subject to availability. We have two double and two twin rooms at £30 per night, including breakfast and overnight parking. Please ask at Main Reception.

Medication and toiletries

It is very important, if you are on any medication, you bring all your medicines with you when you come into hospital. They should be handed to the nursing staff as they need to know exactly what you are taking.

We ask all patients to provide adequate toiletries during their stay with us including soap, flannel, talc, deodorant, tissues and disposable razors. They are also available from the hospital shop near to the main entrance and on the trolley. The services of a hairdresser are available by appointment. Bookings and details of charges are available from ward receptionists.

Valuables

Yeovil District Hospital cannot accept liability for the loss of, or damage to valuables, such as money, jewellery, iPods and laptops and other property unless they are placed in the hospital safe and an official receipt obtained. Any losses will need to be claimed for on your home insurance. Cash handed in for safekeeping will be banked so it can only be returned as a cheque – this takes about seven days. It is advisable when you are admitted that you ask a relative or friend to take home any belongings that you will not require during your stay.

Please take special care of spectacles, hearing aids and dentures, as these can easily be lost on a busy ward. Please make your own arrangements for clothes and laundry as the hospital has no facilities for providing these.

Mobile phones and cameras

If you use your mobile phone on the ward please ensure that you do not disturb other patients - use it discreetly and turn the volume down on your ringtone. If you are asked to stop using your phone by a member of staff please do so. Phones can interrupt with the operation of vital medical equipment in areas such as the Intensive Care Unit – please pay attention to signs asking you to switch off your phone in these areas. A public telephone is available in the lift lobby on Level 3 close to the main entrance. There is also a freephone nearby to call a taxi or check public transport timetables.

The use of any form of camera or other recording equipment is strictly forbidden without the express permission of staff in advance.

Radio Camelot, Yeovil District Hospital’s own radio station broadcasts to the wards. Special requests for inpatients can be left by recorded message on 01935 384499 or left at the studio on Level 2 next to the hospital restaurant.

Your mail

To ensure mail sent to you is delivered promptly it would help our post room staff if it is clearly marked with your name and ward. Our postal address is: Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4AT. If you have stamped outgoing mail please give it to the ward staff. Collections from the post box in main reception are at 5.30pm on weekdays.