How can we contact the ward?
You can telephone (01480) 416484
Where is the ward?
Acer ward is based within Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon.
Click here for map
What can we expect when we get there?
Acer ward is a controlled access ward which means the front and back doors are opened via a ‘swipe card’. When you arrive please just use the intercom system and staff will come and open the door. Staff will ask you who you have come to visit and will then locate your relative for you. When you are leaving, simply inform staff and they will open the door for you again.
What if we want to take our relative off the ward?
If you go the nurse’s office and check with staff that it is ok to do so, they will need to know where you plan to go and how long this is likely to be for. This is because nursing staff need to make a record of this.
Can we speak to somebody about our relative’s care?
All of our patient’s are allocated specific nurses (you might hear them referred to as Primary nurses). You can either ask your relative or any of the staff who has been allocated and whether they are on duty to speak to when you visit. However, if the named nurses are not on duty when you visit, you can ask to speak to any of the nursing staff on duty at the time.
The ACS Consultant is not currently based on Acer ward, however, you will be welcome to attend CPA review meetings which happen on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons to meet with the Consultant. If you would like an appointment to speak to the Consultant outside these times, please let nursing staff know. Alternatively, you could ask to speak to a junior doctor on the ward.
It is important that your relative gives us permission to speak with you about their care before we can do this. Staff will therefore check with your relative before giving specific information relating to their care. Should your relative not give us permission to share information with you, staff will be able to offer information in general terms only in the interests of maintaining confidentiality.
How long will our relative be in hospital?
This is difficult to answer since each patient and each admission is different. However, the ACS aim is to provide care within the hospital for the shortest possible time and early discharge through the Home Treatment Team is facilitated as often as possible. To discuss an individual plan of care, you can ask to speak to nursing staff.
Can we just bring our relative to the ward for admission if they become unwell?
No. As a busy in-patient unit, it is not possible to offer direct admission in this way.
So what do we do if our relative becomes unwell at home?
If your relative shows signs of becoming unwell at home, you may want to contact the GP for an appointment. If the GP feels admission may be needed, he/she will speak to a duty worker at the Newtown Centre to discuss this further. Outside of office hours, you would contact Urgent Care Cambridge, the out of hours GP service.
If your relative is already being seen by Mental Health services, you should make contact with the care coordinator in the first instance. Your relative should have the care coordinators contact details on their CPA care plan. If the care coordinator is not available, you can contact the Newtown Centre (01480) 415340 and ask to speak to the duty worker for advice.
Outside of office hours, you can call ------------
If your relative has previously been admitted to the ACS (either Acer ward or Home Treatment), you can call us on (01480) 416484 and we will be able to offer advice or support over the telephone. However, if you feel your relative needs more than the ACS can offer over the telephone, you can call Urgent Care Cambridge (GP service).
In an emergency however, your relative may need to attend A&E or you can contact the emergency services.
What is a carer?
A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.
Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age. Many feel they are doing what anyone else would in the same situation; looking after their mother, son, or best friend and just getting on with it.
Carers don’t necessarily choose to become carers: it just happens and they have to get on with it; if they did not do it, who would and what would happen to the person they care for?
Carers have a legal right to a carers assessment. It is your chance to discuss what help you need with caring. You can also discuss any help that would maintain your own health and balance caring with other aspects of your life, like work and family.
What is a carers assessment and how do I get one?
A carers assessment is a set of questions that will identify how caring impacts on a carers life and it helps us to determine what support we might be able to offer. If your relative has a Care Co-ordinator they should have offered you a Carers Assessment already. If your relative does not already have a Care Coordinator then our nursing staff should offer you the opportunity of an assessment.
Do I qualify for a carers assessment?
The law says you have a right to an assessment if care for someone for 'a substantial amount of time on a regular basis. The relevant legislation is the Carers (Recognition & Services) Act 1995 and the Carers & Disabled Children Act 2000. You may be a carer living with or away from the person you care for, caring full time or combining care with paid work - you will still have a right to a carers assessment.
You also have a right to an assessment if you intend to look after someone. For example: if your friend or relative is in hospital and you expect to look after them when they come back home. Or it may be very helpful to ask for an assessment if you intend giving up work.
You also have a right to an assessment if you intend to look after someone. For example: if your friend or relative is in hospital and you expect to look after them when they come back home. Or it may be very helpful to ask for an assessment if you intend giving up work.
What is the purpose of a carers assessment?
The purpose of a carer's assessment is to discuss the help you need with caring, plus help to maintain your own health and balance caring with your life, work and family commitments.
As well as looking at the help you need, the assessment can be useful in:
· Exploring how you feel about caring with a professional
· Giving you information on benefits and support such as carers groups.
· Deciding if you want to stay or return to work and how to make this happen.
· Looking at how caring may affect you in the future and what help you might need.
For more information on Carers Assessments please feel free to leave a question on the ‘Ask a Question’ page or speak to nursing staff when you visit.
Are there any carers organisations?
Here are a few organisations you may find useful
Carers Uk
Carers UK is an organisation which provides information and advice on all aspects of caring, including benefits and tax credits, carers' employment rights, support for carers and the people they care for, carer assessments and available services. It also runs a network of offices, branches and contacts which offer support and campaigns for action to support carers at all levels of national and local government and with service providers. Formerly known as Carers National Association.
Website: http://www.carersuk.org/
Free advice line: 0808 808 7777
Email: membership@carersuk.org for contact details of the Huntingdonshire branch
Crossroads Care Cambridgeshire
Crossroads Care is a charity which provides services through a network of local providers across England and Wales. Each provider offers a variety of support services for carers including a service where a trained carer support worker comes into the home to take over the caring responsibilities, enabling the carer to take a break.
Telephone: 0845 241 0954
Telephone: 0845 241 0954
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is a national organisation of carers support services with a network of independently managed centres across the UK. The centres provide a range of services, including information and advice on benefits, care and access to services, advocacy, support and practical help for carers.
Website: http://www.carers.org/
Email address: info@carers.org
The Carers Christian Fellowship
The Carers Christian Fellowship aims to offer a link and support for Christians who are caring in some way for a relative, friend or neighbour. The Carers Christian Fellowship seeks to come alongside all those whose lives have been touched by the experience of caring for those close to them.
Website: http://www.knight-designs.co.uk/CCF/
Young carers
Young carers are children who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, a mental health problem or a substance misuse problem. Young Carers take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.
Carers' Support Team - Telephone: 01223 715580
