When you arrive at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), please come to the main reception desk on level one, unless your admission letter asks you to report to another part of the hospital.

The receptionist will check and update your details and tell you which ward or department to go to.

What to bring with you

You will have a small locker next to your bed for your personal things. We suggest you bring:

• your admission letter
• any tablets or medicines you have been taking at home
• two sets of nightwear
• one or two sets of day clothes
• contact numbers for close relatives or friends
• toiletries, towel, flannel, razor and shaving materials
• tissues
• a small amount of money for things you might need while you are in hospital
• things to do in quiet moments, such as books, magazines and crosswords
• the name, address and phone number of your GP (home doctor)
• walking aids/wheelchair if you normally use them
• your diary, in case you need to arrange follow-up appointments

What not to bring with you

Do not bring valuables, jewellery or large sums of money into hospital with you. If you do, ask a relative to take them home for you or give them to the nurse in charge of your ward when you arrive.

We cannot accept liability for the loss of items that are not handed in for safekeeping.

Your medicines

We need to know about all the medicines you are taking, including ones you have been prescribed, any you have bought from a chemist or other shops, and any you take now and again. This will help us to give you the best care.

Please bring them with you so you can show them to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse when they come to see you on the ward.

Your medicines are kept with you at all times while you are in hospital. Your bedside locker will have a lockable section to safely store them and only your nurse or pharmacist can open it. If you move wards during your stay, your medications will be moved with you into your new bedside locker.

Sometimes, the medication you bring into hospital with you is no longer suitable for you when you leave. One of our pharmacists will check which medicines you still need so you can take them home with you.

Before your operation

Before your operation, we will ask you to complete a pre-operative healthcare questionnaire. This is used to assess your fitness for surgery. We will ask you to use a secure web-based application called Synopsis Home to fill in the pre-operative healthcare questionnaire at a time that is convenient for you; from the comfort of your own home.

You will need to register to Synopsis Home before you can complete the questionnaire. Once you have completed and submitted the questionnaire, our pre-assessment nursing team will review your answers to find out if you need any further pre-assessment before your surgery.

Mobile phones

You can only use mobile phones in certain areas. Please ask the Ward Manager for more information.

Wi-Fi

Free patient Wi-Fi is available at Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington Hospital, and King’s College Hospital. Patients and visitors can access the internet free of charge 24 hours a day.

To access the Wi-Fi, select the ‘NHS Wi-Fi’ network from your mobile, tablet or laptop. Accept the Terms and Conditions, and click ‘connect’. Patients and visitors accessing the Wi-Fi can use the service to find out information about the hospital, as well as use the internet more widely.

For further information, contact the Wi-Fi Helpdesk on 0344 848 9555.