Going into hospital

Most people with HIV in the UK are so well that the only time they go to hospital is for routine outpatient check-ups. But there may be times when you need to be admitted to hospital, either to receive a course of treatment for an infection, for surgery, or even to participate in a clinical trial. For most people, going into hospital will be an unfamiliar experience and some find it unsettling, or even frightening, so having an idea of what you are likely to experience might be helpful.

When you are first admitted, a nurse will fill out an admission form with you. This will record your name, address, date of birth, next of kin, and religion. You’ll also be asked to provide a medical history and say how able you are to look after yourself. If you are having an operation, you’ll be asked to give your consent. What an operation involves and why it’s being undertaken should be fully explained to you before you give your consent. If anything is unclear, then it's a good idea to ask for more information.

Hospital routines can seem very strange. You might find that you have to get up and eat your meals at different times than you are used to. You may also feel like you have very little privacy or time to yourself. Ward rounds, medication rounds, consultations with doctors and tests can all feel overwhelming. On top of all this, you’ll be away from loved ones and may also have to cope with the boredom of being in hospital and, perhaps, bad news, illness, pain, or worries about your health.

You may see a number of different doctors while you’re in hospital, and your regular HIV doctor may not be one of them. This can make it harder to ask questions about your treatment and care. If you don’t feel able to ask one of your doctors a question, try getting a nurse or other member of the healthcare team to act as an intermediary. Ward rounds, when a group of doctors go from patient to patient can be particularly intimidating. It can be distressing to hear your illness or health discussed as if you weren’t there, or as if you were just an interesting problem. Don’t be frightened to ask questions during a ward round or remind the doctors that you’re there!

Large hospitals are also teaching centres and you may be asked if a medical student can examine you as part of their training. It’s perfectly okay for you to say no if you are not happy to agree.

If you’re admitted to hospital for a reason other than HIV, it would be a good idea to make sure that a doctor or nurse involved in your HIV care knows and liaises with the team providing your care while you are in hospital. This will ensure that you receive the right treatment and care.

Visitors can really help you cope with a stay in hospital and, particularly on specialist HIV wards, you may find that you’re allowed visitors at any time and not just during set visiting hours. But visits can be tiring, particularly if you are feeling unwell, or are weak after an operation or other medical procedure. If you don’t feel up to visits, let your friends and family know. The nursing staff on the ward will support any decisions you make about visits.

UK civil partnerships give registered gay partners the legal right to visit their partner in hospital. Even if you haven't entered into a civil partnership you'll almost certainly find that hospitals treat same-sex partners with respect.

Having some of your own possessions with you can make a stay in hospital a lot more comfortable. Some of the most important things you might want to have with you are toiletries, toothbrush and toothpaste, a razor and shaving foam, some clothes to wear during the day, and something to entertain you such as books, magazines or a personal music player. Mobile phones can help keep you in touch, but there may be restrictions on their use on the ward. Having some cash will also probably be useful. Be careful with items of value or money as thefts from patients do occur in hospitals.

Hospital food is often the subject of jokes and, although real efforts have been made to improve it in recent years, you may find it unpalatable. It’s okay for visitors to bring food in for you, or for you to order food to be delivered to you on the ward. If you’re feeling well enough, you may even want to go out for a meal.

Confidentiality can be an issue during your stay in hospital. It can be hard to conceal that you are HIV-positive if you are staying on a specialist HIV ward and you may want to restrict your visitors to people who already know that you have HIV. Hospital staff shouldn’t reveal details about your diagnosis or care to anyone without your consent.

You’ll be discharged from hospital as soon as you’re medically fit. In some circumstances, you may also be discharged into the care of another healthcare provider.

Before you are discharged, the hospital should do the following:

• Make a follow-up appointment with the appropriate outpatient department. If you were admitted to hospital because of HIV-related causes, this will be at your HIV clinic.

• Give you a telephone number to contact in case of emergencies.

• Give you enough medication to last until your outpatient appointment.

• Ensure that you are able to cope with your medication at home, or that you have help to do so.

• Give you a letter, or discharge note, to give to your GP.

• Arrange for transport to get you home.