Your Hospital Stay

CUH is a Smoke-Free Campus

There is a No Smoking Policy in Cork University Hospital. Patients, relatives and friends are not permitted to smoke within the hospital including on the grounds around the buildings.

The Importance of being prepared

Things to do and think of before your admission to our hospital:

  • Check your admission date.  You will have received a letter containing your admission date (the date planned for you to come into hospital) and details about where to go. If you are not sure when to come in or where to go, please telephone the contact number on your letter.
  • Please check with your GP if you have a cold or other infection, as this may need to be treated prior to your admission. If you are not able to keep your admission date, please contact our admission office immediately, 021 492 0305.
  • If possible arrange for a friend or relative to bring you to hospital. They can take away clothes, property and valuables not needed by you during your stay.
  • You must not take any alcohol before coming to the hospital on the night before or on the day of admission.

What you will need while in Hospital

  • A letter from GP or pharmacist listing all the medications you are taking.
  • Medical card / Health Insurance identification.
  • 2 sets of nightwear, Dressing gown, and slippers.
  • Regular day clothes to wear during the day and walking shoes with good support and firm grip on soles.
  • Toiletries, bath towel, hand towel and 2 face cloths.
  • Mobile phone charger.

Medicines

Any medicines that you need will be provided on the ward. If you bring any medicines with you from home, please hand them to staff. When in hospital, do not take any other medicines without the knowledge of your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If you require medication when leaving the hospital, a prescription will be given to you before discharge. 

Money, Jewellery and Valuables

It is your responsibility to keep your property safe.

An amount of cash, not exceeding €20 will be sufficient for newspapers etc. We advise you not to bring larger amounts of cash, bank cards or valuables for security reasons.

The hospital cannot accept responsibility for any personal property or money that is not handed in for safekeeping. Therefore you are responsible for all personal property you retain. Please keep your hearing aids, dentures, glasses in a designated container.

 

Taking Care of Your Safety

  • Our staff are trained in Moving and Handling techniques that are designed to make moving of patients easier, and to avoid lifting in all but exceptional circumstances.
  • You may be shown how to move yourself under supervision as the first step to independence, or you may be moved using simple equipment such as sliding sheets, hoist, etc.
  • We may need to fit side rails to your bed during your stay. This will help us care for your safety.
  • At all times footwear must be worn when out of bed to prevent injury from sharp objects, slips, trips, falls etc.
  • At night, in the interest of your safety, your bed should be kept at the lower position and with brakes in use. Please use call bell for assistance.

Medical Information

  • All the details of your condition and treatment are confidential and are given to your GP / PHN / Relevant person only with your permission.
  • Please ask your doctor or ward nurse in charge if there is anything you need to know about your condition, treatment or medicines and don’t hesitate to tell them if you don’t understand what you are told.
  • Should you have difficulty understanding the information given to you, ask for it to be explained in understandable language.
  • The staff will, if you wish, keep your relevant person informed of your progress. Please give staff the contact details for the one named relevant person who will be kept up to date. That relevant person can then inform other relevant persons.

Mealtimes

8.00 – 9.15 breakfast, 12.00 – 1:30 lunch and 4:00 – 5:15 evening tea. Please tell the ward staff if you have any dietary needs or food allergies. Any special diets prescribed by your doctor are arranged through the dietician and catering officer.

Environmental Hygiene

The hospital is proud of the hygiene standard achieved to date.  Our goal is to contribute to the reduction of healthcare associated infections by ensuring the hospital is clean. We are continuously looking at improvements within our hygiene standards. Your help is needed to keep our hospital clean and help prevent the spread of infection.

  • If you are concerned about cleanliness in the hospital or if you spot any dirt or dust, please inform a member of staff.
  • Place your rubbish in the bins provided.
  • Keep the space around you and your bed tidy and uncluttered so that cleaning staff can access all surfaces easily. Place no item on the windowsill.
  • Do not store any belongings on the floor, use locker & wardrobe provided – some belongings must be sent home if there is not enough space available to store them.
  • Always remove your toiletries and clothes from bathrooms after use.
  • Do not place any clothes on the radiators.
  • Refrain from littering public areas, corridors and the paths outside the hospital.

A clean environment provides the right setting for good patient care practice & good infection control.

Visiting Times

Please check daily if visiting is allowed to a ward. Phone CUH Switch at 021 492 2000, and your call can be transferred to the relevant ward where you will be informed if visiting is allowed.

2pm to 4pm, 6pm to 8pm Monday to Sunday inclusive. One visitor per patient. Children are not permitted to visit without consulting the ward beforehand.

Shops

One hospital shop is located in the Main Concourse near the Main Reception. The opening hours are 7:00am - 8:30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am – 8:30pm Friday to Sunday. Each morning, a shop trolley goes to all wards that are open to visitors, and if a patient has a special order, the shop may be able to deliver it later that day or the following day. Card payment is possible. Phone 086 0220695 to place an order.

A second shop is the CUMH adjacent to the Entrance Foyer. The opening hours are 8:30am – 8:30pm daily.

These shops are operated by a private company and are not run by the Hospital.

Infection Prevention & Control

Infection Prevention and Control is a fundamental part of the hospital’s quality system to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors. It will never be possible to prevent all infections, but there are ways you and your visitors can help reduce the risk and keep you safe.

Patients and visitors can help us reduce the spread of infection by:

  • Cleaning your hands before you enter and leave the ward or Department.
  • Encouraging your visitors to wash their hands or use the alcohol hand gel provided.
  • Visitors should use the public toilets, as patient toilets are for patient use only. Ask your relatives to use the visitors rather than the patient toilets.
  • Ask visitors not to sit or lie on your bed.
  • Ask visitors not to bring in food for you.
  • Ask visitors not to touching your wound or dressing or any of the devices e.g. drips or catheters.
  • If a visitor is feeling unwell, e.g. has a cold, diarrhoea, vomiting or chicken pox etc., do not visit as all patients are at risk of infection.
  • Watch out for any additional information notices in the hospital.
  • Visitors should adhere to hospital visiting times.

These are just some of the ways we can help reduce the spread of infection within the hospital.  If you require any further information or advice, please ask to speak to the ward manager or a member of the nursing staff.

Assistance for Diverse Needs

We aim to offer access for all people and we work with local disability groups to improve this. All new building work meets with current laws and guidelines.

Wheelchair:

All entrances and exits are wheelchair accessible.

If you need to use a wheelchair while in hospital, please speak to the Portering Department, located on the main concourse (adjacent to main reception). We should be able to lend you one if one is available.

Toilets and Washroom Facilities:

There are a number of wheelchair accessible facilities throughout the campus. Please ask staff on your ward for the nearest facility.

Baby Changing Facilities:

Facilities available on the Main Concourse (near the shop), in the Out Patients Department and two facilities in the Cardiac Renal Centre.

Interpretation Services:

We use the services of an interpretation company to ensure effective communication with patients of non-English speaking backgrounds and/or with hearing disabilities.  Please let staff know as soon as possible if you need an interpreter.

Sign language is also available on request.  Interpretation can be done in-person or over the phone.

Chaplain/Pastoral Care

The Chaplaincy Department provides a holistic approach of pastoral care to patients, families and staff and offers round the clock service throughout the hospital. This approach encompasses mind, body and spirit and is done through supporting and journeying with patients and their families during all the stages of sickness.

CUH respects the spiritual practice of all denominations and philosophies. The hospital chaplains are available 24 hours a day to minister to the sick, their families and hospital staff. The Multi-denominational Chaplaincy Team is served on a full time basis.

Roman Catholic Church (Chapel of Christ our Savour) is located on the first floor, at entrance to Fastnet Restaurant. Mass times are Monday - Friday 8.30am & 12 noon, Saturday 7.15pm (Vigil Mass), and Sunday 8.30am & 10 am. Mass is broadcast on CUH FM. Holy Communion is brought to the wards on request from patient/family. Confession is available at the bedside on request from patient/family or in the church on request. Anointing of the sick is also available on request. The rosary is recited each night at 7pm on CUH FM.

Church of Ireland Chapel (Chapel of Christ the Healer) is located along the main concourse near the shop. Holy Communion is celebrated on Sunday at 9.15am and is broadcast live on CUH Radio 102FM. Following this service, Holy Communion is brought to the wards on request from patient/family. Ministry of Anointing, penitence and reconciliation is available on request.

Chaplaincy Service provided are:

  • A Supportive listening presence.
  • Availability 24 hours a day
  • Visiting of wards on request from patient/family.
  • Specific supports to patients, families and staff in the intensive care units (General ITU, Cardiac ICU, Accident and Emergency)
  • Journeying with patients and families during the dying process
  • Follow-up, ie. Bereavement Support and Pastoral Counselling

Requests can be made by phoning CUH switch 021 492 2000 and asking for Pastoral Care.

Parking

You can park in any of the public car parks in CUH at a rate of €2.70 per hour up to a maximum daily charge of €15. A reduced daily charge of €10 is available to patients, carers and visitors by contacting a member of the Security department in person or phoning 021 4922118.  As we do not have the space to offer free parking to patients who have to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time, we suggest that where possible, you arrange for someone to bring you to and collect you from the hospital. 

All our car park pay stations accept both cash and card payment 

Disabled Parking is available outside the Main Entrance and outside the Emergency Department. 

Telephones

As mobile phones can cause life support and diagnostic equipment to malfunction, we ask you not to use your mobile phones in areas where you see signs requesting that your phones be switched off. 

Taxis

Free-phone taxi phones are located in the CUH Main Reception or the receptionists can assist you to call a taxi.

Relative Accommodation

Brú Columbanus is an independent charity that provides "home from home" accommodation for relatives of seriously ill patients in any of the Cork Hospitals and the Hospice. Click here to learn more about Brú Columbanus.

Bru Columbanus