After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
The Queen Alexandra Hospital is located just on the hill slopes of Portsdown Hill overlooking Portsmouth. It is conveniently situated for both the M27 and A3M.
Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health. We are committed to the active involvement of family members, friends and carers during a hospital stay. Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health.
More information on visiting hospital for an appointment.
If you've had experience of using our services and would like to make a comment then please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Your views are very important to us and we would like to hear where you think improvements are needed or where things have gone so well that you would like to share your thanks or gratitude with the staff involved. When things have not gone so well then you can be sure that we want to hear from you, so please get in touch with PALS.
During your stay in hospital you will meet a number of different members of staff. All members of staff wear name badges, but if you are not sure who someone is or what they do, please feel free to ask them to introduce themselves and explain what they do.
If you have any questions about your treatment, please ask a doctor or a nurse.
There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved with the Trust, from volunteering to attending our public meetings, our Annual General Meeting or our hospital open day which is held every year.
We welcome and value your feedback and use the views you share with us in a number of ways to learn and make improvements as well as sharing best practice. Feedback can be provided in a number of ways.
Date: 23 November 2022
“It’s the most rewarding work I’ve ever done!”
A Portsmouth hospital worker who combines his NHS work with civic duties is helping to celebrate his colleagues as part of Nursing Support Workers’ Day (Wednesday 23 November).
Tom Coles, from Fratton, joined Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in 2021 as a Healthcare Support Worker.
Healthcare Support Workers work across a variety of settings at Queen Alexandra Hospital, working under the supervision of a health professional, supporting patients. Day to day activities vary from helping patients to move around to monitoring and performing basic health checks.
Tom, 40, combines his work on the acute stroke unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham with civic duties across the city as part of his other role as Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.
The father of three said: “I always try to make sure any events and occasions I’m invited to as part of my role as Deputy Mayor fall on a day I’m not working, failing that my colleagues and my ward managers have been great at helping me swap shifts where necessary.
“I love my job as Health Care Support Worker, especially interacting with the patients and their visitors, finding out about them and providing company, particularly to those who may not have visitors often.”
Before he joined the Trust, Tom worked for an insurance company and also served in the Royal Navy as a Medical Assistant. He decided to become a Health Care Support Worker after being a patient himself at Queen Alexandra Hospital, which he says has helped him have an extra level of understanding with his patients.
“The best bits about the role are the patients and getting to know them and seeing them improve. There are challenges – especially having to look after very poorly patients but the team are great at supporting each other,” said Tom.
Tom is working towards a Level 3 qualification and hopes to study for a nursing degree, once his civic duties are performed this year.
His advice for people thinking of becoming a Health Care Support Worker? He said: “I would definitely advise them to give it a go at the very least, it’s the most rewarding work I think I’ve ever done, you get to meet and chat with patients and colleagues from a vast variety of backgrounds, and I find the diversity enriching.”
Chief Nurse Liz Rix at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said: "We are very pleased to be celebrating the role and contribution our Healthcare Support Workers, like Tom, make every day - they are a vital part of our teams. They are caring for our community and our patients and it is a real pleasure to be celebrating all that they are and all that they do. They are the bedrock of our wards and departments."
