General Information

Medical Students. The Great Western Hospital is a teaching hospital for both Oxford and Bristol Universities. You may be asked if students can be present during your consultation. Please do say no if you do not want them to be there.

Reception
Mobile Phones. Mobiles phones should not be switched on or used in clinical areas including wards, unless there is a very good reason for doing so. If there is a need to use a mobile phone in any patient area please check with staff. The reason for not allowing use of mobile phones in certain areas of the hospital are not solely related to interference with medical equipment. The use of a mobile phone camera is also not permitted on the wards as this may compromise patient confidentiality. It is important to prevent the taking of inappropriate photographs.
Patientline (Bedside TV/Telephone/Radio/Internet Access). All patient beds have access to Patientline providing TV, radio, phone and internet access. Each unit has separate earphones to allow consideration to others and we advise that these be used to avoid disturbing other patients. Phone cards are available at the entrance to each ward. Please speak to a member of staff if you experience any difficulty.
Hospital Radio. The hospital has its own radio station where volunteers provide a professional radio service to patients from a studio within the hospital. Duties include visiting wards for requests and assisting programme presenters. More information.

Telephones. There are public telephones within the hospital. Please ask for their locations.

Fire Alarms. Fire alarms are tested regularly at the hospital – You may contact the Health & Safety or Fire Safety on 01793 60 55 39 should you have any concerns

Trolley Service. The WRVS (Hospital volunteers) run a daily trolley service around the wards so that patients can purchase newspapers, magazines and confectionary.

Postal Services. Patients can pass any post, correctly addressed and stamped, to any of the nursing staff who will make sure it gets posted. Patients can also receive post provided it is correctly addressed and with the ward name.

Security. Security is a high priority at the hospital and in addition to a 24hr security presence, the site is monitored by CCTV. For extra security, some of the ward areas are only accessible by a door buzzer entry system. Please be patient with the ward staff as they are not always able to answer the buzzers straight away. Please do not follow other vistors or staff into the ward untill you have made yourself known, nor let in people you don’t know.