Patient Information

Preparing For Your Stay

Ring your insurance provider

If you are attending the hospital under an insurance scheme, we advise that you ring your insurance provider to ensure your coverage and clarify any excesses or shortfalls in your policy.  Depending on your policy, some insurers will seek an “excess” payment on arrival to hospital. An excess is a contribution you are required to pay towards a claim you make on your insurance policy. Policy holders may opt to make this contribution in an effort to lower the cost of the premium. This is a contract between you and your insurance company, and as such the hospital cannot intervene. In addition, the patient is liable to cover any charges not covered under your insurance plan.

Bring all your medication with you.

Please ensure that you bring all your medication with you, in their original containers.  In addition to your medication, please bring a list including details of any of the following you take;

• Prescription medication
• Vitamins or other food supplements
• Complementary medicines
• Nicotine replacements
• Herbal rememedies

We advise that you seek help from your Pharmacist to ensure that all the medications, dose and frequency are recorded and to ensure continuity of the correct medications during your hospital stay.  Prior to certain procedures, it is necessary to discontinue some medications for a period of time, for example, Aspirin, Warfarin etc.  If you are unsure as to what medications you should be taking, please contact your consultant.

Consent

Giving your consent means giving your permission, but it is more than that, before you can give your consent to something, you need to fully understand what is involved such as the benefits, risks, and what choices you may have. In Ireland if you are over 16 you can give your own consent to surgery, medical or dental treatment.                  

For further information about our consent policy in the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee,  visit the links provided below:

Consent Booklet: /contentFiles/Consent_Booklet_29th_July_2022(6).pdf

Consent Poster: /contentFiles/Consent_Poster_26_09_2022(4).pdf

Checklist - what to bring with you.

• All your medications in their original containers, including herbal or over the counter medicines and nicotine replacement therapies. Also bring  a list of your current medications from your community pharmacy or GP.
• Nightwear , dressing gown and slippers (non-slip)
• Children may bring their favourite toy.
• Toiletries
• Change of clothing
• Anything you use on a daily basis. For example, hearing aid and batteries, zimmer frame etc.
• There is no ATM on site, therefore, we advise that you bring a small sum of cash.
• Contact details of your next of kin.

We ask that you do not bring any valuables, jewellery, large amounts of cash, too much clothing (space is limited), electrical equipment, tobacco products, alcohol, illegal substances and food with you to the hospital. 

During Your Stay

Patient Catering

We take great pride in assuring that the food you eat while in our hospital is safe and wholesome. A choice of meals will be available to you, offering a wide variety of fresh food and catering to any special dietary requirements (Please be sure to let us know if you have any special dietary requirements). If you have been advised by the healthcare team to fast or to avoid certain foods, please adhere to these guidelines.Only food supplied by the hospital should be eaten by patients staying in hospital. The Hospital will not accept any responsibility for food eaten by patients that has not been produced by the hospital.

Meals are served at the following times;

• Breakfast 07.30 am – 08.00 am
• Lunch 12.00 pm – 12.45 pm
• Evening Meal 04.45 pm – 06.00 pm

If you feel like eating outside of your room, the hospital has a public restaurant located on the ground floor.  The restaurant at Bon Secours Hospital Tralee offers a wide range of delicious and affordable meals and snacks for you to enjoy.

Pastoral and Spiritual Care

Pastoral Care is an integral part of the holistic care provided by Bon Secours.This ministry is available to all patients and their loved ones, while respecting each person’s religious freedom, personal convictions and culture. Ministers and Leaders of other faith/spiritual traditions can be contacted to visit, on request. 

Our Pastoral Care department offer the following services; Our Healthcare Chaplains visit patients in their rooms (unless specified otherwise) and offer the opportunity for emotional or spiritual support, prayer or just a listening ear.Visit patients  in their rooms (unless specified otherwise) and offer the opportunity for emotional or spiritual support, prayer or just a listening ear.  The Sacraments of the Catholic Church is administered according to the needs and desires of individual patients. Daily Mass is celebrated at 9.30 am in the hospital Chapel and Holy Communion is distributed in patients rooms to those who wish to receive.Our Chapel is located on the ground floor and is open 24 hours a day, providing an oasis of calm for prayer and reflection. All are welcome. All services are transmitted from the Chapel to patients’ rooms on. T.V. Channel 7. During the day reflective music is also available on the same channel.

Your Child's Stay

Your child's safety and well being is of the utmost importance to us at the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee. 

Discussing your child’s visit to the Bon Secours hospital, answering questions openly and honestly (according to his or her age) will help to alleviate fears and anxieties. Our booklet “Your Big Adventure at the Hospital” is available on our website or in hard copy on the ward and will familiarise your child with what to expect once here. Please bring along a favourite soft toy or cherished article as this can be of comfort to them. Parents may remain in the unit with their child. Restaurant facilities are available to you during your stay. We ask that you adhere to our safety precautions and ensure that your child is supervised in the restaurant and other facilities.

Smoking

The Bon Secours Hospital Tralee is a smoke free campus. 

In an effort to promote a healthier lifestyle for patients and staff, smoking is prohibited on the hospital grounds, which includes the  entrances to the hospital, footpaths or in the carpark. 

If you have any queries regarding our smoke free policy, please contact Best Practice Manager, Breda Doyle, on (066) 7149800. 

Going Home

Discharge

We ask that you make arrangements with your family/escort to bring you home no later than 11.00am on the morning of your set discharge date. Make sure to read over  any information leaflets relevant to your condition/procedure.  Ask your discharging nurse or doctor any questions or queries you may have about how to care for yourself at home.

Questions to Ask

1. If you have a wound, what care is needed? Have you stitches or clips that need to be removed?
2. Do you need an outpatient appointment or follow up care?

You Should be Given

1. Discharge letter to give to your GP in the community
2. Follow up instructions
3. A prescription if needed

Discharge Checklist

• Do you have your own medication that you brought in to hospital?
• Have you got your discharge prescription?
• Discharge medication is not supplied by the hospital.
• Do you have a way of getting the prescribed medication before you arrive home?
• Do you know what the medication is for, how often and how long you should take it for? If you are unsure, ask your doctor before you leave
• Do you have house keys, clothes and is there food available?
• Have you got all your belongings? (Including new and old medical aids such as your glasses, dentures or walking aid).
• Do you need a visit/help from the Public Health Nurse, Home Help or Family?
• Do you need a letter for your doctor or Public Health Nurse?
• Do you need a medical certificate for your employer?

Your doctor will give you a new prescription when you are discharged from hospital. A copy of this prescription will be sent to your GP as your medications may have changed while in hospital. To avoid taking the wrong medications ask your community pharmacist to check any medication you have at home and destroy those you no longer need. There is an outpatient pharmacy service available at the hospital should you wish to have your prescription dispensed before you go home. Opening hours are 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.

For more Information, please see our Essential Information For Patients Booklet and our Patient Rights Booklet.