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Date issued:  July 2018

For review: July 2020         

Ref: A-305/oncology/SH/Having your lung operation v3

PDF:  Having your lung operation [pdf] 475KB

On the advice of your consultant, you have been invited to come to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for an operation at the specialist centre for your lung surgery.

The centre has a team of expert doctors, nurses and support staff, who treat patients from all over Devon and Cornwall.

They will carry out your operation and look after you until you are fit to return to the care of your local hospital.

We appreciate that life may feel like an emotional rollercoaster at the moment.  You may have many questions and anxieties about the operation, your hospital stay, parking, accommodation, support and financial concerns.

This booklet has been prepared to answer many of these questions and more.  We hope it will supplement the information given to you by your doctors and specialist nurse.

We also hope your relatives, and close friends, will use this to help them understand the services and support available at Derriford Hospital.

It may not cover all your concerns, if you have any other questions or worries after reading this booklet, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the staff listed on the last page.

 

The Plymouth team work closely with staff at other hospitals across Devon and Cornwall to make sure patients get the right care at the right place.

If you would like written details of your management plan please contact your local specialist nurse.

You should already have met your lung nurse specialist - the key worker responsible for co-ordinating your care at your local hospital and for making sure your trip to Plymouth for surgery goes as smoothly as possible. 

When you have surgery in Plymouth, your key worker will be Michelle Hessan or, in her absence Sarah Earl, Christine Paterson or Mandy McLaughlin-Earp.

When you are discharged home, Michelle will liaise with your local specialist nurse, who will take over again as your key worker. Your follow-up care will then, as far as possible, take place locally.

For the number of your local specialist nurse see page 25

Pre-assessment of patients about to undergo major operations is considered standard practice.  It's the final check that everything is ready.  It is an opportunity for you as a patient to ask further questions about the surgery and to see the ward environment.

 

What we do and where

Pre assessment will be on Erme or Postbridge Ward. It is a very individual process, taking into account your current health, any chronic health conditions, level of mobility and social circumstances.  Pre-assessment for patients is usually done the week prior to or the week of surgery.  Depending on individual circumstances, such as travelling long distances, pre-assessment may be the day before your operation.

The pre-assessment process involves:

A review by the surgical team and a further assessment (clerking) process.

Review by an anaesthetist.

Final investigations such as chest x-ray, blood tests and cross-match of blood type. These tests have to be done as near to the planned surgery as possible, to give a complete up to date picture for the surgeon and anaesthetist.

Pre-operative screening for MRSA.This is done by taking a swab from the nose, and again has to be completed as near to the operation date as possible.

There may be occasions due to bed availability when patients are asked to spend one night in the Lodge (a hotel facility close to the hospital) before their operation, returning to the ward in the morning.  There is no charge for this stay and transport will be arranged for you.

All earlier aspects of pre-operative work will continue to be carried out at local hospitals (where facilities exist).  These would include:

• CT scan
• Broncoscopy
• Endoscopic bronchial ultrasound
• PET scan
• Echocardiogram
• Lung function studies
• Surgical consultation

If there is anything you don't understand, or would like to discuss, about pre-assessment, please ask your nurse specialist. They are there to help.

You will be cared for on Crownhill Ward located on level 7 of the Terence Lewis Building.  The ward has 22 beds for patients who need heart, lung and stomach surgery.

Patients are cared for in small bays but due to clinical need they may be of mixed sex.

Would you like help to find your ward?

If you need help finding Crownhill Ward, please report to the reception desk at the main entrance of the hospital, where a member of staff or volunteer will show you to the ward.

Crownhill Ward contact details

For general information: Å 0845 155 8274

Please bear in mind that mornings and mealtimes are the busiest time on the ward. 

To speak to the patient personally:

Use Hospedia

Many of the wards have a Hospedia unit at each bed. This can be used to watch TV, listen to the radio, make and receive telephone calls and more. Details will be available when you arrive and a member of Hospedia staff can show you how to make use of the system. Once you get your bed, simply press the operator button on the telephone handset to tell Hospedia that you have arrived. You can use a credit or debit card to pre-buy services, as well as buy Hospedia cards from cash vending machines. Please ask the ward staff if the Hospedia system will be available during your visit.

Ward visiting times

We actively encourage visiting and the involvement of visitors and carers while patients are in hospital.   Keeping in contact with friends and relatives is an important part of a patient’s treatment, care and recovery.

The ward is open to visitors from 7.30am to 22.00pm daily. 

However:

• Visiting times may be extended for compassionate reasons
• Visiting times are restricted occasionally to allow patients to rest and for care and treatment to be carried out.
• If you have a problem visiting within these times, please ask one of the nurses, who will make arrangements to suit your needs. 

 

In order to prevent the ward getting overcrowded, the number of visitors is restricted to two per patient at any one time.

 

When not to visit

Please do not visit if you are not feeling well, or have been exposed to any infection.   Symptoms such as coughs, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can easily spread to vulnerable patients and make their condition worse.   If you have symptoms of diarrhoea or sickness, please do not visit the hospital until you have been better for 48 hours.

If the hospital is experiencing difficulties with an outbreak of infection, please do not bring young children or frail, elderly visitors.  They may be at particular risk from the infection.

Doctors’ ward rounds

A doctor on the consultant’s team will see you every day during the week and at the weekend. 

Doctors’ ward rounds aren’t normally completed until late morning.  It would be appreciated, and hopefully more informative for relatives to leave non-urgent calls until after 11am and to avoid ringing during mealtimes.

If one member of the family is nominated to ring for information, then feeds back to the rest of the family, this puts less pressure on ward staff.

If you wish to see a doctor to discuss your relative’s condition, please talk to the ward clerk or ring the ward to arrange an appointment.

NB Due to confidentiality, a patient’s diagnosis cannot be discussed over the telephone.

 

Ward meal times

Breakfast                    8am

Morning coffee            10.30am

Lunch                         12 midday

Afternoon tea              2.30pm

Evening meal              6pm

 

Personal food

Cold snacks, biscuits, juice etc can be brought in for patients, but please don’t use glass containers.  For safety reasons, meals brought in can’t be warmed through.

 

Mobile telephones

The use of mobiles phones is prohibited in some areas of the hospital as they can interfere with medical equipment. Mobile phones can be used in the hospital corridors, main entrance, and outside.  Areas where mobile phones can be used will be clearly signed.

Please check with the nursing staff before using your mobile phone on the ward.

What to bring with you 

• Inhaler, tablets or medicines you are taking.
• Night clothes, slippers (non-slip) and dressing gown.
• Comfortable clothes or tracksuit.
• Toiletries (e.g. towel, soap, flannel, toothbrush, hairbrush, shaving kit, cosmetics).
• Spectacles/hearing aids/ contact lenses if you use them.
• Change for phone calls, newspapers etc.
• Something to read. 

Please try to avoid bringing valuables or large sums of money into hospital.  If this is not possible, please give them to the nurse to take to the cashier’s office for safekeeping. We cannot accept responsibility for items that are lost, if you don’t ask us to look after them.  

Smoking

The Trust is a smoke-free environment.  If you would like support to give up smoking, contact:

Plymouth Smoking Advice Service Å(01752) 314040 the NHS Smoking Quit line Å0800 169 0 169 or via the Roy Castle Website at www.roycastle.org or on Å0333 323 7200

 

Hairdresser

A hairdresser is available for patients.  To book an appointment contact her via pager 89640

 

Hand hygiene

Please take note of the advice about hand hygiene, which is displayed throughout wards and departments. 

Hand gel is available outside all wards for everyone to use.  Please help to minimise the risk of infection by using this. 

If the container is empty, please tell a member of staff.

 

Flowers

Flower water can carry infection risk to patients who are susceptible.  Flowers themselves can also cause allergic reactions for some patients.  For this reason, flowers are not allowed on Crownhill Ward.

 

Hospital environment

We are committed to maintaining a comfortable, clean environment for patients, visitors and staff.  If you visit an area where the standard of cleanliness is not what you would expect, please tell a member of staff.

 

Patient and Visitor Parking

There are a number of car parks for patients and visitors on the Derriford Hospital site. Parking charges apply 24 hours a day.

Pay and display: Some of our car parks are pay and display and require you to purchase a ticket from the machine located in the car park at the time that you park. 

Pay on exit: We also have pay on exit car parks which you access through a barrier, collecting a token as you enter the car park. If you use a pay on exit car park you will pay for your parking at the end of your visit. There are machines to pay for your parking in the car parks and also in the main entrance to the hospital on level 6 

Disabled parking: Free parking for blue badge holders is only available in non-barrier pay and display car parks, up to a maximum of 4 hours when parked in a marked disabled bay. The full charge is applicable in all other barrier controlled car parks.

On April 1 2014 new parking charges were introduced:

 Current parking charges at Derriford Hospital

Length of stay	Fee
0 – 15 minutes	Free
15 minutes – 1 hour	£1.20
1 – 2 hours>	£2.40
2 – 3 hours	£3.60
3 – 4 hours	£4.80
4 – 5 hours	£6.00
5 – 6 hours	£7.20
Over 6 hours	£12.00

 

Concessions

In addition, a range of concessionary tickets will continue to be available as below:

• All patients who are undergoing a course of treatment who are required to attend the hospital for at least 3 days in a week will be entitled to a day rate concession of £1.20 per day (frequent flyer).
• Oncology patients attending for treatment £1.20 day rate

These concessions will not change from 1 April 2014.

Free Parking

The following groups will continue to be entitled to free parking:

• Resident parents of children in hospital or parents whose babies are being cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Relatives of those patients who are critically ill. The critical care unit will contact the Parking Desk.
• Relatives of patients being cared for on the End of Life Care Pathway.
• Those who are visiting the bereavement office or collecting a death certificate.
• Members of the public donating blood.

If you qualify under any of these groups, please go to the Parking Desk in main reception to obtain your special parking permit.

Discounts for frequent visitors

Discounts are available for a week or longer:

• £24 for a 5 day ticket (Savings up to £36)
• £32 for a 7 day ticket (Savings up to £52)
• £96 for 1 month ticket (Savings up to £276)

All concessionary tickets can be shared between different vehicles. 

These frequent visitor permits will not change from 1 April 2014.

For more information on these concessions please ring 01752 432 000 or go to the Parking Desk in main reception.

Unexpected Stays

In addition to standard parking arrangements, if your stay is unexpectedly extended either due to clinics running late or unexpected admission to hospital, then please ask the ward/department to contact the parking office on 32000 giving your car details and which car park you are parked in.

Travel Expenses

Some patients in receipt of certain state benefits may be entitled to a refund of their parking costs and travel expenses. For further information please visit the Cashier’s Office on level 7 of Derriford Hospital or telephone 0845 155 8170.

What about other methods of transport?

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has a nationally renowned green travel plan and encourages the use of public transport among staff, patients and visitors, wherever possible. Derriford is served well by public transport, hosting the second busiest bus terminal in Plymouth with 44 buses per hour calling at peak times. 

There is a public park and ride site located north of Derriford Hospital at the George junction (opposite the George Pub/Hotel). Parking is FREE, although you will need to purchase a ticket to travel on the bus. This is ideal for patients and visitors including disabled badge holders travelling from the north of the City to Derriford Hospital. For the latest information, including timetables and ticket prices, about the George Park and Ride visit the Plymouth City Council website.

Drop-off bays

Drop-off and collection bays are available around the hospital entrances.

Hospital Car Service

If you are not fit enough to come to hospital by private car or public transport, contact Transport Access Patient on 0845 053 9100.  They will discuss whether you are able to use the hospital transport system.  There is a charge for this which you may be able to claim back if you are on certain benefits.

Travel expenses

Refunds for travel expenses and car parking can be claimed for patients who receive:

• Income Support or ESA income based
• Pension Credit – guaranteed credit, not savings credit
• Job Seekers Allowance – income based only
• Low Income Certificate HC2 or HC3
• Family Tax Credit

If you are on benefits please go to the cashier’s office on level 7, Derriford Hospital. You will be asked to show proof that you receive the relevant income. 

The cashier’s office opening times:

09.30 – 16.00 Monday – Friday

Please note: The Department of Social Security sets the rules on who can claim.

 

Help with travel costs for carers

NHS Transport is not routinely provided for carers.

However carers can claim back travel costs from the DWP social fund if the patient is in receipt of:

• Pension credit
• Income support
• Income based job seeker allowance

 

Other funding for travel costs

If none of the above apply, you may still be eligible for assistance via other sources of charitable funding, such as Macmillan grants, Roy Castle or local cancer charities.  You can speak to our benefits advisor in the Mustard Tree Support Centre to check your entitlement. 

If you need further support please contact your local specialist nurse who will be able to provide information regarding any local arrangements with funding for accommodation and transport.

 

Full-time benefits advisor

We appreciate that during times of prolonged treatment a person’s financial position can alter radically.  If you are not sure whether you are entitled to a benefit, or need help and advice, why not make a confidential appointment with our benefits advisor in the Mustard Tree Support Centre at Derriford Hospital?

She can help with:

• Prescription charges
• Work and cancer
• General benefits for those who are sick or are caring
• Travel costs for patients and their carer’s
• Macmillan Grants
• Cancer funds
• Patient Voluntary Welfare Fund

Please ring the Mustard Tree Macmillan Centre on 01752 763672 to arrange an appointment.  

The Lodge at Derriford is a purpose-built accommodation for relatives and friends of patients undergoing treatment in Derriford Hospital.   It is a few minutes' walk from the hospital.   The Lodge was originally built by HeartSWell South West, a local charity that raises money for the South West Cardiothoracic Centre, to accommodate relatives of patients undergoing heart surgery at the SWCC.  It now welcomes relatives and friends of any patients at Derriford. 

Facilities include:

• Single rooms with en suite
• Twin rooms with en suite
• En suite bedroom designed for those with disabilities
• 1 full size bathroom, 1 shower room designed for those with disabilities
• Large south facing lounge and dining area
• Kitchen with microwave oven, fridge and freezer space
• Complimentary breakfast provided
• Telephone in every bedroom for internal calls to wards at Derriford
• Payphone in reception
• Courtesy bus service between Derriford and The Lodge, available at specified times, on request
• Laundry service available
• No smoking
• Payment by cash, cheque or credit card

There is an accommodation charge for relatives and friends. Patients who stay in the Lodge on the day of admission for surgery will not be charged.

Prices from £45.50 (as at June 2016)

Applications via:

The Lodge

Blunts Lane
Plymouth PL6 8BE
Devon

Tel: Å01752 315900/315930
Fax: Å01752 315913

website: www.thelodgederriford.co.uk

The following shops and services are available in the main hospital foyer on level 6.

Reception desk

Situated in the main reception area, this is a useful contact for general information, such as directions to wards and departments, or visiting times.

Wheelchairs

There are wheelchairs by the main entrance.  A one pound coin is needed to use a wheelchair - this is refunded when the chair is returned. 

Post box 

The post box is inside the main entrance, door.  Collections are at 6pm Monday to Friday, and at 12.30pm on Saturday. 

 

Public telephones

• There are a number of public telephones, one of which has wheelchair access
• Freephone for taxi service

Public toilets

• Ladies and gents
• Disabled toilet
• Baby-changing facilities

 

Coffee shop and bakery

Hot and cold snacks, cakes, pastries and beverages, to eat in or take away

 

Opening hours

Monday to Sunday:  7 am – 7.30 pm

Saturday and Sunday: 9 am – 6 pm

There is also a restaurant on level 7 for relatives and visitors.

Greenbank Restaurant (Level 7)

Opening times: Daily 7.30 am – 8 pm

Cashpoint machine

There is a Barclays Bank cash machine outside the main entrance into the Hospital.

 

WH Smith shop

Where a wide selection of magazines, books, newspapers, sweets and other useful items.

Opening times:

Monday to Friday        7am - 8pm

Saturday                     8am - 7.30pm

Sunday                       8am - 7pm

 

 

League of Friends fruit and flower shop

This well-stocked shop provides fruit, flowers, plants and a variety of small gifts.

Opening times:

Monday to Friday        9 am - 6.30 pm  

Saturday                     10 am – 5 pm 

Sunday                       12 pm – 4 pm
 
League of Friends book shop

The book shop sells a variety of second-hand hardbacks and paperbacks.

There are vending machines and other coffee shops throughout the Hospital.

Within the Hospital grounds also available are:

Marks and Spencers (located at the Main Entrance on Level 6)

Opening times:

Monday to Friday – 7 am – 9 pm

Saturday and Sunday 8 am – 8 pm

 

Subway (located beside the Multi-storey car park)

Opening times:

Monday to Saturday -7am -9pm

Sunday 10am -9pm

 

Pizza Hut (located beside the multi-storey car park)

Opening times

Monday to Thursday 12-11pm

Friday to Sunday       11am-11pm.

 

The whole team at Plymouth are always willing to answer your questions, in an open and honest manner.  The team includes your surgeons, Crownhill Ward nursing staff, physiotherapist occupational therapist, and the lung specialist nurses.

This team can be contacted via the lung specialist nurses, Michelle Hessan, Sarah Earl, Christine Jones, and Mandy Mclaughlin-Earp.  They are available to you, your relatives and close friends for any questions, concerns or worries throughout the whole of your treatment at Plymouth and after your treatment has ended. They are the main means of communication between all parties involved.

They can be contacted Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, on 01752 432383.  An answer phone is available for messages. Outside of these times, urgent matters should be dealt with by your GP, or by contacting Crownhill Ward directly on tel: 0845 155 8274 .

For patients coming from outside Plymouth, your local specialist nurse will also be available to you throughout for care before, during and after your stay at Plymouth.

How do I find out more information?

Advice and useful links can also be obtained from:

• www.be.macmillan.org.uk 
• www.plymouthhospitals.co.uk
• www.roycastle.org

Or from the Macmillan helpline on freefone Å0808 8082020

Macmillan Cancer Support Centre: The Mustard Tree

The Mustard Tree Macmillan centre has been created to support people with cancer, their families and carers.  It is a ‘drop-in’ centre based above the Oncology Out-patient Department on level 3. 

It is staffed by professionals and trained volunteers, many of whom have personal experience of cancer.  Please come along if you would like additional information about your illness or treatment, would value the opportunity to talk to someone about how you feel, or just need a break from the usual routine.

As well as offering advice and support, the centre also offers a wide range of services:

• A full-time Benefits Advisor, Denise Martin
• Radiotherapy aftercare service
• Counselling service
• Massage
• Craniosacral therapy
• Relaxation classes
• Look Good Feel Better (make over)
• Reflexology
• Healing
• Fatigue workshop
• 'What should we tell the children?'
• Wig service every Thursday mornings, run by Browns
• Activity workshops
• ‘Living with cancer’ educational sessions
• Pastoral, spiritual and religious care

 

Your comments

If you have any comments about the care or service provided on the ward or ideas for improvement, please let us know.

 

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you have a concern, problem or worry about your care or some aspect of the service provided and would like help from someone other than the ward staff, you can contact the PALS office.

Open Monday to Wednesday 9.00 am to 1700

                            Thursday    9.00 am to 1900

                             Friday        9.00am   to 1700

                            

PALS office: on level 6 in the main concourse

 

Telephone: Å0845 155 8123

Internal Calls: Å57657

E-mail: PALS@phnt.swest.nhs.uk

 

Post
Patient Advice & Liaison Service
Patient Services
Level 7, Derriford Hospital
Plymouth 
PL6 8D

Your local lung nurse specialist contact details

Plymouth	Michelle Hessan	01752 432383
	Sarah Earl	01752 432383
	Mandy McLaughlin-Earp	01752 432383
	Christine Jones	01752 432383
Exeter	Sandra Pope	01392 402168
	Mel Crimmins	01392 402168
	Aimee Zeinah	01392 402168
Barnstaple	Carolyn Devine	01271 337801
	Martin Peters	01271  314046
Truro	Paul Kneller	01872  252015
Torbay	Jennifer Cook	01803 655069
	Debbie Farn	01803 655069

 

 

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation     

 0333 323 7200

 www.roycastle.org

 

Mustard Tree Cancer Support centre      

 01752 763672

 

Macmillan Cancer Relief                        

0845601 6161

www.Macmillan.org.uk