What we do
On Paul Wood Ward, we care for patients requiring investigations and treatment for a wide range of cardiac related health conditions. This may include cardiology interventions such as angioplasty, heart failure and rhythm management, and implantation of cardiac devices.
In June 2020, a new day-case unit was established in Paul Wood. The unit offers patients the opportunity to be admitted in the morning, have their procedure, and go home on the same day.
Our team is also committed to provide the highest standard of care for patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Congenital heart disease is a general term used for a range of birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart and great vessels.
Pre-assessment clinic
Before your admission to hospital for a procedure, we will get in touch with you by telephone, text, email, or letter and carry out consultations by video or telephone.
Your pre-assessment for a procedure will be by telephone with a specialist nurse and possibly an anaesthetist.
We may arrange for you to be tested for Coronavirus (COVID-19) before your admission. We will usually ask you to go into self-isolation for a minimum of three days after testing, and to maintain strict hand hygiene by washing your hands regularly with soap and water and/or hand sanitiser.
Life on the wards
There are 21 beds on Paul Wood ward. Each bay is single sex, so you will only be in a room with people of the same sex as yourself.
The day-case unit is a mixed-sex area caring for both men and women. However, a nurse is always present, and every effort is made to ensure that privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
The bathroom and toilet facilities are labelled as being for male or female use.
Mealtimes
- Breakfast is usually served between 8am and 8:30am
- Lunch is generally served between 12 noon and 1pm
- Dinner is served between 6pm and 7pm
In addition, tea, coffee and snacks are served mid-morning and mid-afternoon. There is a complimentary hot drinks machine on the ward for patients and visitors.
Visiting times
- 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 8pm (no visiting between 1pm - 2pm)
Who you will meet on the ward
Each ward is managed by a ward sister or charge nurse, with the support of the nursing team, who care for the patients alongside the consultant surgeons and their medical teams.
Our nursing staff are experienced in the care of heart and lung surgery patients and many have undertaken specialist courses in this area. Please ask the nursing staff if you have any questions about your surgery or care and they will be pleased to help.
We have student nurses allocated to the wards, but they always work under the supervision of a qualified member of staff. In addition, we also have qualified nurses who are undertaking the specialist cardio-thoracic training course at the hospital, who are also allocated to the ward areas.
We have a clinical practice educator team which assists with the education of the nursing staff. You may see them working alongside members of the nursing team who are caring for you.
Other people you may come into contact with are:
-
the matron
-
clinical services manager
- pre-admission clinic nurses
-
clinical practice educators
-
advanced practitioners - experienced specialist nurses who work as part of the medical team
-
ward administrators
-
catering staff and supervisors
-
domestic staff and supervisors
-
supporting health professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, pharmacists)
- pain management nurse specialists
-
complex discharge nurse
-
patient advice and liaison team (PALS)
Contact
Matron
Sue Bunce
Level 5, Sydney wing, Royal Brompton Hospital, SW3 6NP
Phone: 020 7351 8598