Here you are looked after by the 'on-call' team of doctors for the first 24 to 48 hours. If you want to speak to one of these doctors please ask the nursing staff to arrange it for you.

After MAU, you are likely to be moved to a different ward where your specific problems can be best cared for. The nurse will tell you who your medical team is and you will meet your doctors soon after your arrival on the ward.

There will normally be at least one of your doctors on the ward between 9am and 5pm on Mondays to Fridays, and they will generally visit you each day. However, they do have other commitments outside the ward such as outpatient clinics. If you want to be certain of speaking with them, ask a nurse or the ward clerk to arrange this for you.

Outside of these hours, your own doctors may not be available. The clinical site manager or on-call doctor will be able to help if the enquiry is urgent, and the nurses are always there to help too.

Your family can make an appointment to see the doctor or to telephone at a particular time if visiting is difficult. Please remember that our doctors will only discuss our condition with your family or other individual, designated by you, if you have given your permission.

Acute pain service

Research shows that good pain management leads to a quicker recovery time and may reduce complications. Ward staff work closely with our acute pain team to help effectively control any pain a patient may suffer after surgery. They also help patients who are not necessarily having surgery, but may suffer from short-term severe pain due to their illness.

You can speak to ward staff at any time about any pain or discomfort you are experiencing and they can contact the acute pain team on your behalf.