Information for inpatients

• Personal care items - toiletries, makeup, eyewear, slippers
• Clothing - day wear and nightwear
• Leisure activities such as books, mindful activities, puzzles
• Mobile phones, tablets or laptops for music, internet access and keeping in contact with family and friends
• Prescribed medication which should be easily identifiable and handed to staff on admission for safekeeping
• Small amount of cash or bank card (optional, there is a safe available in each room)
• Pictures or other familiar items to personalise your bedroom

• Sharp items such as scissors, blades or needles (razors for personal care can brought but you will be asked to hand them in for safe keeping)
• Recreat,ional drugs or alcohol
• Glass
• Food (unless you have special dietary requirements but these can be ordered by the ward in advance)
• Duvet or pillows (unless orthopaedic pillows). Air mattresses are available.

Notes

• We provide towels and bedding and you will be encouraged to make your own bed and change the sheets every week.
• We have washing facilities with tumble drier and clothes horse. Washing powder is provided.
• We have a fully equipped kitchen. All meals and snacks are provided
• Please be considerate with the use of mobile phones, tablets and laptops
• Photography and voice recording is not permitted on the ward to protect the privacy and dignity of others
• We have a ward garden so please bring seasonal outdoor attire
• TV and DVD player are available in the communal lounge
• We have a range of sensory equipment available
• Items required for groupwork are provided

• There is a laundry room that can be used between the hours of 9am-9pm.

• There is a TV, video and DVD player in the large, spacious lounge area. This facility can be used during reasonable hours.

• There are plenty of books, CDs, DVDs, games and jigsaw puzzles.
   
• When patients are physically more stable, there is a garden that can be used.

Each patient is given a meal plan on admission that is discussed with the dietitian and primary nurse. This plan is regularly reviewed. Patients eat together at set meal and snack times. As patients gain the ability to eat independently and safely, they will sit unsupported.

After each meal and snack patients have post-meal supervision and support in the sitting room. Time is allowed to digest the food eaten and to rest. After this patients are free to go to their rooms.

Ward round

Each patient is reviewed every month by the ward team headed by a consultant psychiatrist. Parents/carers or partners are encouraged to attend. Usually those attending the meeting are a consultant psychiatrist, the Senior House Officer, the dietitian, the primary nurse and/or the nurse in charge of the shift, and anyone else involved in the care of the patient, (ie, psychologist, occupational therapist).

Bloods

From time to time, bloods are taken to determine any physical problems associated with the eating disorder and low weight.

Weighing

This happens twice a week. It is optional whether or not you see your weight. Weight is measured in kilogrammes and is converted to BMI (Body Mass Index). This is used along with weight history to determine a goal weight.

Dietitian

Patients will start on a standard meal plan one, and progress to the second and third and so on in discussion with the dietitian and the team. Typically graded dietary increases are at weekly intervals. As the patient progresses with gradual and safe weight gain, a diet plan will be developed to suit their own individual energy requirements.

Exercise

Exercise is restricted at the beginning. It will gradually increase in accordance with weight gain with the aim of a balance between healthy dietary intake and appropriate levels of exercise.

Home leave

Home leave is a particularly important part of treatment as this gives the individual the opportunity to put into practice the skills learnt on the ward, and to highlight any specific difficulties. This will happen when physical health is improved.

During treatment each patient is gradually given back responsibility for his or her nutrition, and for living their lives with the aim of being able to manage once they are discharged.

Throughout each stage of your stay, there is continuous assessment of individual needs. Following discharge from the ward, patients who live locally are supported by our community service. A community therapist will be allocated and appropriate therapeutic input will be agreed upon.

A planning meeting is held to evaluate the aftercare resources available and to ensure that these are in place.

Before final discharge, the ward will liaise with those who are to be involved in the patient's aftercare, and will provide information and a summary report of the admission.