Copeland Unit has 15 inpatient beds. As a patient you are usually here because you are not well enough to stay at home, but an acute hospital ward is not suitable for your needs.  Here you can be looked after by GP’s, closer to home.

We provide care and therapy to help you recover and rehabilitate.  No one likes to be in hospital, so we will support you to return home as soon as you are well enough, and arrange for any follow up support you may need at home.

Important information

Ward Telephone number:  01946 693 181 ext 4098

Hospital Address:  Copeland Unit, West Cumberland Hospital, Hensingham Road, Whitehaven, CA28 8JG

Visiting times

Visiting hours every day are:

  • 1.30pm until 4pm
  • 6.30pm until 7.30pm

Visiting outside these hours must be agreed by the nurse in charge. We ask that you have a maximum of 2 visitors at a time. Your visitors may be asked to leave if you are to receive treatment or when the GP is doing a ward round. Nursing staff are happy to discuss aspects of care with visitors, if you are happy for them to do so.

Meal times

Meal times are:

Breakfast: 8am until 9.30am

Lunch: 12 noon

Tea: 5pm

All patients are encouraged to eat their meals in the dining room. If you would benefit from the help of a friend or relative during meal times, this can be arranged with the ward staff. As part of the Protected Meal Times Policy no other visitors will be allowed at meal times, to make sure you can enjoy your meal without interruptions. Every day you will be given a menu to complete for the following day’s meals. If you arrive between meal times, please ask staff for a snack box. Please let staff know if you have any special dietary requirements. Food safety is a priority, any items of food brought from home should be given to staff for safe storage.

When you arrive

When you arrive at the ward, a member of staff will show you to your bed area. This is where you will receive your treatment and care. You will also be shown where the toilets, bathrooms and dining room are.

Any questions

We hope we can make your stay here as comfortable as possible. If you have any questions, please ask a member of staff and they will be happy to help you. You will be shown where the call button is beside your bed; if you need any help or have any concerns, please use the button to call staff.

What to do in the event of a fire alarm

Fire alarms are tested each week and patients are given advance notice of this. In the unlikely event of a fire, nursing staff will advise you about evacuation. Please note the fire exits which are clearly marked throughout the ward.

Your care - Your care treatment and assessment will focus on your discharge plan. Staff will address your individual needs and plan for when you leave hospital. This may be to go home or in some cases you may require care in another setting. Staff will talk to you about this and explain what will happen while you are on the ward.

You are encouraged to be involved in planning your care and you are welcome to speak to staff about your care at any time. It is important that you tell staff if you are currently taking any medicines, and if possible bring these medicines with you. The GP will decide what medication you should be taking during your stay and when you leave hospital.

Your carers, relatives and friends

When we say ‘carer’, we mean the person, or people, that you wish to be informed about your care. This may be a partner, relative, friend, neighbour or an advocate. You will be asked to identify a person who will be the main point of contact for the ward staff.

We realise that your family and friends will want to keep up to date with your condition and progress. However, we will not give out information about your condition to anyone unless you give us your permission. We ask that only your main carer contacts us for information, and then they can pass the information on to other relatives or friends that you are happy to know about your care.

We also request that unless there are exceptional circumstances, calls are made after 10am. Wherever appropriate for the patient we ask that family, carers and friends transport you to outpatients or when you are discharged from hospital. Transport will only be arranged where deemed medically required.

Consent to treatment

You will be asked to give consent for treatment and investigations and for any referrals made to other health or social services professionals. You will also be asked to give consent for staff to share information about your care with your carer.

Consent may be:

Spoken – Saying yes or no to a procedure,

Written – signing a consent form

An action – for example holding out your arm to a nurse who is about to take your blood pressure indicates that you are happy to consent.

Identity bands

When you are admitted, you will have an identity band put on your wrist. This will have your name, hospital number and date of birth on it. If you have any allergies the wrist band will be red in colour to let staff know that you have allergies.

Same sex accommodation

The ward is for both male and female patients. It is separated into male and female areas, so you will only be sharing sleeping areas, toilet and bathroom facilities with people of the same sex.

Communications and advocacy

If you would like support from advocacy services, please let a member of staff know and they will arrange this for you.

Advocacy is a free service, and an advocate is someone who can speak up on your behalf, or help you speak up for yourself. If English is not your first language we can provide you with an interpreter.

Smoke free

Please do not smoke in the hospital building or on the grounds. The Trust has a strict No Smoking policy. If you would like Nicotine replacement therapy or help to stop smoking, please speak to staff.

What you will need while you are in hospital

Please bring day and night clothing. We encourage patients to wear day clothes that maintain your privacy and dignity. Getting dressed as you would at home is often an important part of your rehabilitation assessment. We do have hospital nightdresses and pyjamas if required. We do not provide a laundry service. Please ask your visitors to bring you clean clothes and take away clothes for washing.

You will need suitable footwear to keep you safe while in hospital and reduce the risk of falling. Well-fitting slippers or shoes are recommended. Please provide your own toiletries and towels, including soap, bath products, shampoo, shaving equipment and products for the care of your teeth/dentures.

You will have a locker by your bed for personal belongings. Please only bring what you need and put your name on things if possible. If you use a walking stick or other aids, please bring this with you.

Car parking

Pay and Display parking is available for visitors. A ticket must be purchased and displayed in the car. Disabled parking spaces are also available. There is no charge for blue badge holders

Your responsibilities
  • Please let staff know if you have any special needs, such as dietary or religious requirements.
  • Please provide staff with relevant information about your past medical history, medication or any other treatments and contact details for your carer, relative or friend.
  • Please do not smoke in the hospital building or on the grounds.
  • Please treat staff and fellow patients with respect.

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302