Preparing for your stay

Your admission date

We'll send you an admission letter with:

• the date you need to come into hospital
• details about where to go

We aim to respect your privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs at all times. 

Phone the number on your letter if you have any special needs, such as washing or praying facilities.

If you need an interpreter or signer and this was not booked when your admission date was arranged, please contact our language support service. Email [email protected] 
 

Confirming a bed is available

Please do not go to hospital until our admissions office has confirmed a bed is available. This applies even if we've organised your transport and they arrive to collect you.

We'll do everything we can to make sure there's no change to your admission date. 

Different locations for surgery

We're using different hospitals in the area alongside St Thomas' Hospital and Guy's Hospital for surgeries. Your surgery could also take place at:

• Private Care at Guy's at London Bridge Hospital
• London Bridge Hospital
• Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup

You may also see a different clinician or surgeon for your treatment. We may need to change your appointment or surgery date but we will always give you as much notice as possible.

If you cannot attend

If you're unable to attend for any reason, please tell us as soon as possible.

You can cancel your planned admission by calling the number on your admission letter. For some services, you can also use our patient app, MyChart.

If you do not contact us, this will affect your position on our waiting list.

Packing your bag

Phones and tablet

You can bring your phone or tablet but this is at your own risk. We cannot accept liability for lost or stolen property.

We provide free WiFi. Please use headphones and consider the brightness of your screen so you do not disturb other people.

Your valuables

Do not bring valuables, such as jewellery or large sums of money to hospital. Hospitals are public buildings and we cannot accept liability for lost or stolen property or money.

If you must bring valuables with you, then they should be handed to a nurse when you arrive. This is so we can arrange for safekeeping in our cashiers' office. You'll need to sign a receipt for your valuables. Your valuables will be returned to you when you're ready to leave hospital.

If you've deposited £100 or more, our cashiers' office needs 24 hours' notice to return the money to you. If you leave the hospital when the cashiers' office is closed, you may not be able to collect your valuables on the same day.

Relatives and friends

Remember to let your relatives and friends know that you are going to hospital. Give them our hospital telephone switchboard number, 020 7188 7188.

Don't forget to tell them which of our hospitals you're coming to and which of our wards you'll be staying in.