Darlington Memorial Hospital
National Health Service Hospitals
National Health Service hospitals are run and managed by National Health Service trusts, which make sure that hospitals provide high-quality healthcare, and that money is well spent.
Apart from emergency care, hospital treatment is arranged through your GP doctor, dentist or optician. Treatment at National Health Service hospitals is free.
Coming into hospital
Your hospital admission depends on the type of test or treatment you are booked in for. You can be admitted as:
- an outpatient - you will see a specialist without the need to stay in hospital overnight
- a day patient or day case - you need a hospital bed for tests or surgery, but do not need to stay overnight, or
- an inpatient - you need a hospital bed because you have to stay in hospital for tests or surgery.
You'll be involved in all decisions regarding your treatment throughout your stay in hospital. If you wish, staff will keep members of your family or friends informed about your progress.
All hospital staff will treat you equally regardless of gender, sexuality, age or disability and will always respect your privacy and religious or cultural background while providing care.
Discharge/ Transfer
When you arrive in hospital, those professionals in charge of your care will develop a plan for your treatment, including your discharge or transfer. This is usually done within 24 hours. You will be able to discuss your needs, and how they will be met, to ensure that you have everything that you need for a full recovery when you return home.
Your discharge or transfer date will be affected by:
- how quickly your health improves while you are in hospital, and
- what support you will need after you returned home.
Organising transport
You should make arrangements for a relative or friend to collect you. Let the staff know if they need to make other transport arrangements for you.
Medication
If you are given any medication to take home, you will usually be given enough for the next seven days. You will also be given a letter that includes information about your medication to give to your GP.
If you need to continue to take your medication, you should arrange to get a repeat prescription from your GP before your hospital supply runs out. Some surgeries require up to 48 hours notice for repeat prescriptions.
Notifying your GP
When you leave hospital, you will be given a letter for your GP, giving information about your treatment and future care needs, including medication and any changes to it. You should give this letter to your GP as soon as you can.
What is the Hospital Passport?
The hospital passport can be filled in and taken with you if you need to go into hospital in Darlington, Bishop Auckland or Durham.
It gives hospital staff important information that they need to know to make sure a stay in hospital is as comfortable as possible for you.
The passport belongs to you so please ask for it back when you leave hospital.
What is a Bedside Booklet?
The booklet tells you about what you need to know and can expect to happen while you are in hospital.
The bedside booklets can be found in the cupboard by your bed when you stay in hospital in Darlington, Bishop Auckland or Durham. If you would like to look at one that is easy to read with pictures like the one we have here please ask the nurse.
