Going into
hospital
What happens when you stay
overnight
An Easy Read leaflet
2
If you get ill or hurt yourself, you
may need to go to hospital to get
better
Treatment is what the health
staff give you to make you better
You may be able to go to
hospital for your treatment and
go home the same day
Or you may have to stay in
hospital over night in a ward
A ward is a room with beds so
you can stay the night
3
When you arrive on the ward, a
nurse will take you to your bed
The nurse will tell you where to
put your things
The nurse will show you how to
ring the bell if you need help
The nurse will ask you and your
carer some questions

Your answers will help the nurse
to give you the right treatment
4
The nurse will put a plastic
bracelet on your arm. It has
important information on it
Don’t take it off until you are
going home
You will meet lots of different
health staff in the hospital
They all wear a name badge
Hi there!
I’m Dr Patel
When they speak to you, they
should tell you their name
5
There will be a bottle of hand
gel next to your bed. You can
rub it onto your hands to kill
germs
The doctors and nurses must
wash their hands often
Everyone who visits you should
use the hand gel
Always wash your hands after
you have been to the toilet
The staff will tell you and your
carer about the treatment they
are going to give you
6
What if I don’t understand or I
am frightened? You can tell
your carer or the hospital staff
The staff will ask you and your
carer to sign a form

The form asks if you say yes to
having the treatment
You can say no if you don’t want
the treatment
There is a light and a radio next
to your bed
7
There is a television and
phone by your bed
You need money to make them
work
The nurse can show you how to
use them
There is a shop in the hospital
selling things like crisps,
shampoo and newspapers
A jug of drinking water and a
glass are next to your bed
8
The staff will come to ask if you
want a hot drink
Let them know if you are hungry
and need a snack
You can choose three meals a
day from the menu card
The nurses can help you fill in
your menu card. Tell them if you
need help with eating or drinking
The nurses will give you
medicine or tablets if you need
them
9
If you feel sick or you have a
pain, ring the bell for the nurse
to come
11 12 1
10
2
9
3
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4
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5
08:00
11 12 1
10
2
9
3
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Visiting times are from
8am to 8pm
08:00
But your carer can visit or stay
with you for a longer time if you
need them to
If you are not happy about
something, ask the staff to get
you a PALS worker. They can
help to sort out your problems
10
More information for people with
learning disabilities and their
carers can be found on the Trust
website at:
www.uclh.nhs.uk
or try
www.easyhealth.org.uk
11
•
You can get these leaflets in easy read:
•
Having a blood test
•
Having an X-ray
•
Having a scan
•
Going to A&E
•
Having a pre-operative assessment
•
Getting help
•
Having a general anaesthetic
•
Washing your hands
Easy read by the easy info group at TAP.
Ideas in this leaflet from Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust.
Pictures from Photosymbols.
First published:
January 2011
Last review date:
January 2013
Next review date:
January 2015
Leaflet code:
UCLH/CN/LD/GOHOSP/1
© University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Created by Medical Illustration RNTNEH 020 3456 5103 Unique Code: 29305