One attendant, at all times
Every admitted patient must have one adult attendant present throughout the stay. Not for part of the day. Throughout.
This matters more in a small unit than in a large hospital. The attendant is the person we turn to for a history we did not get at admission, a consent we need before a procedure, a decision at two in the morning, and a pharmacy run. A patient without an attendant is a patient whose care is slower.
Who can be an attendant
- 18 years or older. Children cannot serve as attendants.
- One primary attendant, named at admission and recorded in the file with a phone number and a photo ID. The role can be handed over to another family member, but tell the nursing staff when it changes.
- For female patients, we ask that the overnight attendant is female wherever the family can arrange it.
- The attendant should be someone who can understand and pass on medical instructions, and whom the family trusts to relay decisions.
Where the attendant stays
| Accommodation | Patient beds | Attendant | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubicle (two available) | 1 bed | Attendant bed provided | ₹4,500 |
| Ward | 3 beds | Chair beside the bed | ₹3,500 |
We are not able to provide an attendant bed in the ward, and we would rather tell you that before admission than have you discover it at eleven at night. If your family needs an attendant bed, ask for a cubicle at the time of admission, subject to availability.
The tariff is the bed charge only. Consultant visits, investigations and medicines are billed separately. See the inpatient care page.
What we ask the attendant to do
- Stay reachable. If you need to step out, tell the nursing staff first and leave a number.
- Do not leave the patient alone without informing the nurse on duty.
- Accompany the patient for tests, scans and procedures.
- Collect medicines from our pharmacy when asked and hand them to the nursing staff, not directly to the patient.
- Tell us about any change. New pain, breathlessness, confusion, vomiting, fever, a fall. You are with the patient continuously and we are not. Attendants notice things first, and we would much rather be called unnecessarily than late.
- Ask questions. If you did not follow what the doctor said, say so and ask again. Nobody here will mind.
What we ask the attendant not to do
- Do not adjust, stop or restart any drip, oxygen tubing, catheter or monitor. If something looks wrong, call a nurse.
- Do not give the patient any food, drink or medicine without checking with the nursing staff. This matters particularly in heart failure, diabetes and kidney problems, where a single meal or a glass of water can undo a day of treatment.
- Do not bring in medicines from outside without telling us what they are. Bring the old strips and boxes so we can see them.
- Do not sit or lie on the patient's bed, and do not move between beds in the ward.
- Do not photograph or record other patients, staff or any part of the ward.
Visiting hours
Visitors: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, daily.
A maximum of two visitors at a time, in addition to the attendant. Children under 12 are not permitted as visitors, for their protection as much as the patients'. Anyone with fever, cough or cold should not visit. Please keep voices low; in a five bed unit, one loud conversation reaches every patient.
The attendant is not a visitor and stays through the day and night.
Food
Breakfast is provided for the patient. Lunch and dinner are arranged by the family. Attendant meals are not provided, and reception can point you to places nearby.
Before bringing any food in, check with the nursing staff. Many of our patients are admitted precisely because of a metabolic or cardiac problem where diet is part of the treatment. Salt matters in heart failure. Sugar and portion matter in diabetes. Fluid volume matters in both. We will tell you what is suitable, and it is usually less restrictive than families expect.
Hygiene and infection control
- Wash or sanitise your hands on entering and leaving, and before touching the patient.
- Wear a mask if you have any cough, cold or fever, or if we ask you to.
- Keep the bedside clear. Bags, boxes and food containers on the floor make cleaning and emergency access harder.
On the premises
- No smoking, tobacco or alcohol anywhere in the building. This includes gutka and paan.
- Mobile phones on silent, particularly after 9 PM.
- Valuables are your responsibility. Please keep money, jewellery and phones with you or at home. The hospital cannot accept responsibility for personal belongings.
Billing
You can ask for an interim bill at any time during the stay, and we encourage you to ask early rather than at the end. The final bill is settled at discharge. Ask reception if you need it itemised or need a copy for insurance or reimbursement.
If the patient needs to be transferred
If at any point the condition needs intensive care, surgery or a specialty we do not provide, we will tell you immediately and arrange transfer to Saradamba Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Vidyanagar, or another appropriate hospital. We send the clinical details ahead so the receiving team is not starting from nothing.
The attendant must be available to travel with the patient. This is one of the main reasons we insist on an attendant being present at all times.
Discharge
Discharge is planned in advance wherever possible. You will receive a written discharge summary listing the diagnosis, treatment given, medicines to continue, and the follow-up date. Please go through it with the nursing staff before leaving and ask about anything that is unclear, particularly the medicines.
Questions
Ask the nursing staff on duty, or call +91 89193 41154. If something in this policy caused difficulty for your family, please tell us. We would rather change it than defend it.