Our patients

Your admission letter explains what you need to do before coming into hospital. It is essential you follow these instructions or your treatment may be delayed as a result.

Please check the date on your admission letter. If you cannot attend, ring the telephone number on the letter as soon as possible.

In certain circumstances, emergencies mean that we have to delay a planned admission. So please call Guthrie Ward before you leave home to check that your bed is available. The best time to ring is stated in your letter, together with the number to call.

If you are staying with us for more than a day, we advise that you bring some essential personal items with you, such as:

• Comfortable, loose-fitting nightwear, a dressing gown, slippers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and any other toiletries you require.
• A small amount of money for purchases from the hospital shops.
• If you are a UK patient, the name, address and telephone number of your GP.
• Any tablets or medicines you have been taking at home.
• Reading material.
• Laptop or tablet.
• Mobile phone. You can use this in most areas of the hospital, but you may be asked to switch it off in certain locations.

Please bring with you any prescribed tablets or medicines, including inhalers, creams or eye drops, that you have been using before you come to hospital. Medicines should be in their original containers and be fully labelled by your local pharmacist or we will not be able to use them.

If you are unable to bring your usual medicines into hospital, we will make sure you receive the ones you need. Your medicines will be kept in a locker next to your bed and not taken away without your permission.
When you leave, we will return your medicines if they are still prescribed for you. If you no longer need them, we will dispose of them with your permission.

Guthrie Ward has two highly trained pharmacists available to answer any questions you may have about your medications while you are in hospital.