If you’re staying in hospital overnight, it means you’re an inpatient. You might be here because you’re having surgery or a test, or getting treatment.
We’re here to care for you so you can get back to living your life as soon as possible.
Planning your journey
Check your appointment letter to make sure you know where to go.
Getting to Royal Brompton Hospital
Royal Brompton Hospital has three main buildings.
- Sydney wing – the main hospital entrance on Sydney street
- Chelsea wing – the entrance on Dovehouse Street which can also be reached via a bridge from Sydney wing, but is not wheelchair friendly
- Fulham wing – the entrance is on Fulham road, next to the Royal Marsden Hospital
Your appointment letter will tell you which building your ward is in. Find out more about Royal Brompton Hospital wards.
Find out how to get to Royal Brompton Hospital.
Getting to Harefield Hospital
Harefield Hospital has one main entrance, opposite The Hungry Hare restaurant. Find out more about how to get to Harefield Hospital.
If you’re not sure how to get to your Harefield Hospital ward, ask the reception team by the main entrance.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment. It’s important you arrive on time.
Help with travel
Most people arrange their own transport to hospital. If you cannot do this, you might be able to use our patient transport services. If you have a medical need and cannot get to and from our hospitals by other means of transport, we can arrange hospital transport for you. Find out more
Accessing support
Call the phone number on your appointment letter if you need:
- accessibility adjustments, like a separate waiting area
- information in a different language or an interpreter, including for British Sign Language
- communication in different formats, like easy read leaflets
- quiet rooms or prayer rooms
Confirming your appointment
Call us to confirm your appointment the day before you come into hospital. If your appointment is on a Sunday or Monday, call us on the Friday before. You’ll find the name of the ward and the telephone number on your appointment letter.
Do this even if we've organised your transport and they arrive to collect you.
Our hospitals deal with emergencies that we cannot predict. Sometimes, we need to prioritise emergency patients.
We'll do everything we can to make sure there's no change to your appointment date.
Cancelling your appointment
Tell us as soon as possible if you cannot come to your appointment.
Call the phone number on your appointment letter to cancel it. For some services, you can also use our patient app, MyChart.
If you do not come to your appointment, and you have not contacted us, your position on our waiting list will change.
If you feel unwell
It’s our responsibility to keep you safe and prevent infection.
Important - contact us if you feel unwell within the 3 days before your appointment.
Call the phone number on your appointment letter if you have:
- a cold or cough
- diarrhoea (runny poo)
- been sick (vomited)
- been in contact with someone with an infection, such as COVID-19 or chickenpox
Things you need to bring
Bring a small bag with things you need during your hospital stay. Do not use a big suitcase as we do not have a lot of storage space.
Your friends, family and carers can bring more things for you when they visit you. They can also take your laundry back and bring you clean clothes.
- your appointment letter
- all medicines you take, in their original packaging – including medicines you buy from a pharmacy or shop
- the name, address and postcode of your GP
- proof of entitlement to free travel costs, if you need to claim travel expenses
- clothes for daytime
- clothes for nighttime
- dressing gown
- slippers
- underwear and socks
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- soap and shampoo
- towel
- hairbrush or comb
- shaving equipment
- sanitary products, such as tampons
- books and magazines
- notepad and pen
- phone
- tablet, like an iPad
- chargers
- headphones so that you do not disturb other patients
- glasses
- hearing aids
- mobility aids, like a walking stick
- cash or bank card in case you want to go to the shop
- nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to help you to not smoke
- alcohol
- cigarettes or e-cigarettes
- jewellery or other valuables
- large amounts of cash
Your valuables
Remember that hospitals are public buildings. We cannot take responsibility for any lost or stolen property. Avoid bringing anything valuable with you if you can.
If you have to bring valuables with you, give them to a nurse when you arrive. They’ll arrange for them to be stored safely. You will get a receipt showing which items we have stored, so please keep it safe. You will need to give the receipt back to us when you come to collect your belongings. You can collect them when you're ready to leave hospital.
Preparing for your procedure
Your doctor might have given you instructions about how to prepare for your procedure. This might include advice about taking medicines or not eating and drinking (fasting).
You can search or ask for specific health information about your procedure.
Hygiene
Before coming into hospital:
- avoid shaving your operation site because this may increase the risk of infection. If this needs to be done for an operation, your nurse will help you to do this using special clippers
- have a shower and wash your hair the night before your surgery or procedure
- contact the hospital if you are suffering, or have suffered, from sickness or diarrhoea within the past 48-hours
Telling your family, friends and carers
Remember to tell your family, friends and carers that you’re going to hospital. Give them the phone number of the hospital you’re staying at:
- Harefield Hospital: 01895 823 737
- Royal Brompton Hospital: 020 7352 8121
Your family, friends and carers might also be able to help you when you’re ready to leave hospital.
Start thinking about who might be able to:
- pick you up from hospital
- support you with everyday chores while you recover
- help you get to your follow-up appointments
It might seem too soon to think about leaving hospital, but things can happen quickly. It’s best to plan early with the support of your family, friends and carers.
Changing your contact information
Tell us if you change your address or phone number. It’s important we know how to contact you in case anything changes.
Call the phone number on your appointment letter to change your contact information or update your details in MyChart.