Leaflet Details
| Title | Welcome to the Clinical Assessment Unit (CAU) |
| Department | Clinical Assessment Unit |
| Author(s) | Wendy Pulling, Matron |
| Review Date | October 2022 |
| Next Review | October 2024 |
| Download | A5 Booklet PDF |
| Accessibility Options | Click on the Recite Me button to show our accessibility resources |
Patient Information
Introduction
Welcome to the short stay inpatient Clinical Assessment Unit at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital. This leaflet contains information which will be useful to you and your visitors during your stay.
So what is a Clinical Assessment Unit?
The Clinical Assessment Unit provides rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with acute medical, surgical, gynecology, urological, cardiology, respiratory and gastroenterology conditions. It enables patients to be assessed and observed by expert medical and nursing team, reducing the pressure on the Emergency Department.
The unit consists of 4 bays of 5 beds and 11 side rooms and operates a single sex accommodation policy. It is designed to be dementia appropriate and provide a peaceful and quiet environment, admitting patients at all times of the day and night, with a turnover of over 1000 patients per month, meaning at times the unit can become very busy.
The majority of our patients are admitted via the Emergency Department (ED) but some are admitted from our Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit (AECU). Patients will be seen by the relevant medical/surgical team either in the ED or following transfer to CAU. In order to give you the right care as soon as possible, you may be seen by a number of different clinical staff during your stay. They will assess your condition and arrange any tests that you may require. This assists the medical and nursing teams to review your condition and decide the best treatment options available for you.
Once your results have been reviewed, you will either be discharged home, or transferred to ward area at St Peters Hospital or Ashford hospital to continue with your treatment plan. Transfers out of the unit happen 24hrs per day 7 days per week so it is possible you could be transferred to another ward area during the night.
Each bay area has one highly trained nurse and one healthcare support worker allocated per shift. The side rooms are split between 2 trained nurses and 2 HCA’s. A senior Nurse in Charge is on each shift, there is a ward manager and Matron who work Monday - Friday 8-5pm The shift times of the nursing staff are 07.15 - 20.00 (day shift) or 19.15 - 07.45 (night shift). Your “named nurse” will be available to answer any question that you or your relatives and carers may have regarding your personal care plan, and we are open to any to comments and concerns you may have.
Our nurses are supported by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and discharge coordinators. All the unit staff work together with you, your relatives and carers using a partnership approach to ensure you receive a fast, effective, and safe discharge to maintain your quality of life.
Visiting Times
Visiting is from 2pm to 8pm. We ask that only 2 visitors per patient please. Visiting outside of these hours must be agreed with the ward manager, nurse in charge or Matron. Please understand that visiting can be amended in line with Infection Control advice.
Infection prevention and control and health and safety
We aim to ensure that our patient’s clinical care is not interrupted, and the safety and wellbeing of patients and others are considered. In line with the visiting policy, children are allowed to visit at the discretion of the nurse in charge. For safety reasons children under the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult. As with all hospital environments, it is advised that babies and infants avoid visiting due to the risk of infection.
Update to Infection Prevention and Control Measures at ASPH - Face Masks
Due to the rise in COVID-19 in the community, we have taken the decision to reinstate mandatory mask wearing for visitors, patients, and staff to keep everyone safe across the hospitals in the Trust.
Surgical face masks will be required to be worn by staff and members of the public when visiting wards and clinical areas. Face masks will be available in the main entrances of the hospitals and in clinical areas.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and will update you with any further changes to our Infection Prevention and Control measures.
Telephone Enquiries
We understand that family and friends will want to telephone the unit and ask about your wellbeing. We are always happy to help, but we do ask that these calls are kept to a minimum. Mornings are particularly busy on the unit, so please ask people not to call until late morning, unless it is urgent.
Please nominate one person to telephone and share information with others, this helps the nurses use their time as efficiently as possible for the benefit of all patients. The contact number for the unit is 01932 722010 or 01932 726269.
Please remember that we are NOT able to discuss specific details about patients over the telephone, due to patient confidentiality.
Talking to the Nurses
Everyone on CAU understands that it can be very a stressful experience coming into hospital and you can become anxious about your illness, treatment, and care. Please feel free to ask the nurse or healthcare assistant any question so that we can reassure you and provide you with all the necessary information regarding your medical and nursing plan.
If your named nurse is busy the nurse in charge or the ward manager will be happy to help you.
Pain Management
Pain is a distressing feeling for everyone, whether it be acute or chronic pain. Nursing staff will assess your pain needs throughout the day and night, usually when carrying out observations, including temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturations. Some conditions require other tests. Your nurse will advise what tests are required and why. We encourage you to inform your nurse of any discomfort or pain so that pain relief can be given.
If you suffer from chronic pain, please inform your nursing team so that we can discuss how you manage your pain and continue your regime of pain relief, so that you do not suffer any discomfort in hospital.
Meals
Meals are prepared on site and usually mealtimes are:
- Breakfast 8.00am
- Lunch 12.30pm
- Supper 5.30pm
You can order from a selection of meals offer on the menu and we cater for people with special dietary needs. Drinks are served during the day and biscuits, cakes, and fruit are available.
If you miss a meal for any reason or would like something else to eat, sandwiches and light salads are available 24hrs a day. Please ask the staff if you require any refreshments.
Protected Mealtimes
We have introduced protected mealtimes for patients. This means that we will try to make sure that you are not disturbed by the healthcare professionals while you are having your meal.
Hospital Shops and Cafes
There is a WH Smith and a café situated at the main entrance to the hospital. There are also numerous vending machines in the Emergency Department and on Level 3 Corridor in the Duchess of Kent Wing.
Personal Property and Valuables
Please ask someone to take any valuables home. If necessary, items can be placed in the unit safe. Ashford and St Peters Hospital NHS Foundation Trust cannot be held responsible for the loss of any personal property.
What to bring
Once admitted to hospital, could you please bring any necessary toiletries, dressing gowns, loose fitting clothing, appropriate footwear, and any current medication you are taking; apart from the medication we do not provide these items for patients. The nursing staff will request you hand any medication over to them so they can be locked away in your bedside locker for safety reasons.
You could also bring towels, pyjamas, and nighties. The hospital can provide these if you have forgotten them, but you may prefer your own clothing. Please remember there is limited space beside each bed and too many personal belongings can create a “falls risk” for patients, staff, and visitors.
Laundry Facilities
Unfortunately, we have no facilities for washing patient’s clothes on the unit. All soiled laundry will be bagged and placed in the patient’s locker.
Chaplain / religious leader
If you would like to speak to a Chaplin or a religious leader from another denomination, please inform a member of the staff so this can be arranged. A chaplain is available 24hours a day.
Privacy, dignity, and respect
We expect our staff to do their best for you and treat you with the utmost dignity and respect.
Similarly, we do not expect our staff to be subjected to any form of verbal abuse, threatening behaviour or assault in any way.
Unacceptable behaviours will invoke the use of the Trust’s zero tolerance policy. Staff on CAU will have access to body cameras if required.
Feedback
The NHS viewpoint feedback portals have been created to help care providers and commissioners understand whether improvements are needed. It is a quick and anonymous way to give your views after receiving care and treatment. The staff on the unit will offer you the opportunity to leave your feedback using a handheld device.
Compliments, concerns, and complaints
A positive patient experience is very important to all the staff. WE always welcome and encourage feedback whether it is good or bad.
If you have any concerns or complaints regarding your stay on CAU, please feel free to ask to speak to your nurse, the nurse in charge, ward manager or Matron.
If you feel unable to communicate your complaint with ward staff, the Trust has the Patient Advice and Liaison Services, (PALS) which is a confidential service that provides help, advice and information for patients, families, and carers.
PALS is located in the main entrance to the hospital. The PALS is open Monday to Friday 9-5pm.
Please note that the weekend service is no longer available, but patients and visitors can get information on those days from the main reception or hospital switchboard.
Dial extension 3553 if you are calling from an internal telephone within the hospital. If you are calling from outside the hospital, please call the PALS office direct on 01932 723553.
You can leave a message outside normal working hours and a member of the PALS team will return your call within 24 hours or by the next working day.
Contact Information
Clinical Assessment Unit
Level 3, Duchess of Kent Wing
Ashford and St Peters NHS Foundation Trust
Guildford Road
Chertsey
KT16 0PZ
Telephone Number - 01932 722010
PALS - 01932 723553
Complaints - 01932 72 2612
