Aldbourne Elective Orthopaedic Ward

Aldbourne Ward is a 36 bedded elective orthopaedic ward.  We care for patients who are having planned surgery on bones and joints. This includes major joint replacement and spinal surgery but also a variety of smaller orthopaedic operations. 

Our team of experienced staff are committed to delivering a high standard of care and providing a supportive, safe and friendly environment patients and visitors and staff.

The ward is a large, bright, airy environment and has beautiful views over the Wiltshire downs.  We have had a strict MRSA policy in place for many years which helps us to provide the highest level of protection to our patients from hospital associated infections.

We have implemented the Productive Ward project which enables us to organise our work efficiently and effectively in order to spend as much time providing direct patient care as possible. 

Location
Aldbourne ward is on the third floor of the Brunel Treatment Centre. This is a modern state of the art facility dedicated to providing elective services to patients.  The ward is divided into four bedded bays and single side rooms.  Each bed has access to a Patient Line television, telephone, light and nurse call bell system.  A member of the Patient Line team visits the ward daily to provide support to patients who may wish to use the TV and phone services

Visiting
Visiting times are in line with many other wards in the hospital:  2.30pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm and we have protected meal times to ensure patients are able to eat at regular periods without being disturbed. However, if there are specific reasons we are happy to accommodate visitors on the ward outside of these times, please speak to a member of ward staff.

Telephone
If possible we ask relatives to contact the team of nurses responsible for a patients care if information is required.

• Blue Team (beds 1-12) 01793 646334
• Red Team (beds 13-24) 01793 646332
• Green Team (beds 25-36) 01793 646331
• Main desk – 01793 646333

We also ask that one member of the family conveys information to other family members to avoid several telephone calls to the ward.  If a patient has subscribed to ‘Patient Line’, their family and friends can also contact them on their own personal number.

Patient Experience
Most patients are admitted on the day of surgery and will arrive at the Theatre admissions lounge.  Here they will be assessed and prepared for surgery and be seen by the surgeon, nurse and anaesthetist.  After surgery they will return to Aldbourne ward to begin their rehabilitation process.  All patients are encouraged to gain early independence, exercise and mobilisation as this helps to reduce complications and ensure that the best possible outcome from the surgery is achieved.

We try to individualise care as much as possible but the ward routine will be similar to this:
07.30 Morning staff start arriving
08.00 Breakfast
08.30 Attending to personal care and operation needs throughout the morning
10.30 Coffee
12.00 Lunch
13.30 Morning staff hand over to afternoon staff
14.00 Attending to personal care and operation needs throughout the afternoon
15.30 Tea
17.30 Supper
20.00 Evening drinks
21.30 Evening staff handover to night staff

Our Staff
We have 10 Orthopaedic Consultants who provide a wide range of speciality knowledge and expertise.  The consultants have teams of doctors working with them who visit the ward daily.  We work closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team and have close links with Pre admission Clinic, Theatre Admissions Lounge and the Joint Replacement follow up clinics.   We have a team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists who are based on the ward to provide care to our patients.

The Matron is Tania Cotton and the Senior ward sisters are Sharon Upton and Rachel Palfreeman.  We have a dedicated team of junior sisters, staff nurses, nursing auxiliaries and volunteers working with us on the ward.

FAQs
We aim to provide our patients with as much information as possible so that they feel involved and informed about their care. The staff will explain routines and procedures but if patients or visitors have any questions they should ask, no matter how trivial they may seem.

We aim to try to resolve any issues or concerns prior to patients going home.  We encourage patients and visitors discuss any issues with a member of staff or ask to speak to the Sister or Matron.

Useful Information
We have a wide range of patient information leaflets available to our patients to support the verbal information that they receive.  In particular the following booklets are of interest:

• Total Hip Replacement information for patients – 05
• Total Knee Replacement information for patients – 0522
• Hip Replacement – NHS Choices
• Knee Replacement – NHS Choices

The ward also has a patient information folder with general information that is available in each room.