What we do
Acorn Ward and Oak Ward make up the acute cardiac care unit. We provide a variety of cardiology investigations and treatment. These range from elective admissions (planned care) to emergency cases that arrive by ambulance. Everybody in the unit is committed to providing a high standard of care by considering all your needs.
Acorn Ward has 18 beds. Oak Ward has 32 beds. The wards are divided into bays and single rooms.
For information about how to get here, including public transport and parking information, visit our Harefield Hospital directions page.
When you arrive on the ward
When you arrive on the unit you will be met by an admitting nurse who will be responsible for planning your care.
As a patient, you will have a nurse assigned to you. Your nurse will take charge of your care and make sure your recovery goes as planned.
Mealtimes
- Breakfast – 7:30am to 8:30am
- Lunch – 12pm to 1pm
- Dinner – 5:30pm to 6:30pm
There are also hot drink and biscuit breaks before and between mealtimes.
Visiting times
10am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm
No visitors are allowed on the ward between 1pm and 3pm.
Find out more about visiting patients at Harefield Hospital.
Life on the ward
The acute cardiac care unit is a mixed sex unit. We make every effort to separate male and female patients, but sometimes this may not be possible due to the clinical need of patients.
Nursing staff are allocated to a bay of patients and have the facilities to care for people in beds, chairs or on trolleys, depending on their clinical needs.
All bed, trolley and chair spaces have cardiac monitoring available.
Most of our qualified nurses have completed specialist training in the clinical area you are being treated for.
Our matron oversees all aspects of care on the unit.
Find out more about staying in hospital.
Who you will meet on the ward
Our ward sister, senior staff nurses, staff nurses and healthcare assistants will be responsible for your day-to-day care.
Doctors will see you at different times of the day depending on your individual needs.
There are 4 medication rounds a day. These are carried out by the nursing staff, who will give you your medication and discuss your needs. Medication rounds happen at 8am, 12pm, 6pm and 10pm every day.
You will also meet our pharmacists who will talk to you about your medications. Our rehabilitation team will work with you to help you back to the fullest possible health.
Find out more about who's who on the wards.
Discharge (going home)
On the day of your discharge, you will be reviewed by a member of the discharge team. You may be asked to vacate your bed and wait in the dayroom. If you need to be seen by a doctor prior to your discharge this will be arranged.
To make sure that you leave hospital with the right information you will need to stay on the unit until a nurse has spoken to you and given you all the information you need.
Please arrange for a relative or friend to collect you. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with transport home unless you have a medical need for this.
Find out more about leaving hospital.
Contact us
Acorn Ward
Oak Ward
Matron
Mandy Brown
Phone: +44 (0)1895 823 737 - ask for 'bleep number 6436'.
Patient telephones
Oak Ward
We have several phones for patients, which can be rung by calling Oak Ward and asking for the extensions for your bay.
Please only call these numbers between 8:30am and 1pm and between 3pm and 9pm.
Oak Ward phone:
Bay extensions:
- Bay 1 - 86590
- Bay 2 - 85928
- Bay 3 - 86591
- Bay 4 - 85100
- Bay 5 – 85227
Martha's Rule - call if concerned
You know yourself or your loved one better than anyone. If you’re worried about a health condition getting worse, talk to us. We have introduced Martha’s Rule to help spot any unexpected signs and give you the right to request a rapid review if you’re worried that your or your loved one’s condition is getting worse.