A little about practical matters
Visits
We do not have set visiting hours, but you may have visitors if you feel up to it. Please be considerate if there are several patients in the same room. We ask for quiet on the ward after 20:00.
Food
On the ward, breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper are served at set times in the dining room.
Outside these times, food will always be available, such as bread, biscuits, fruit, soups and drinks. You can help yourself to whatever you like whenever it suits you.
On Saturday evenings, we usually serve a little treat. Let us know if you have any food allergies. We can then order special food for you from the kitchen.
You can find the weekly menu by the dining room. If you have a poor appetite, feel nauseous or for other reasons cannot eat what is being served, you can also request a special menu.
We provide food for you as a patient and one relative or visitor. Other family members or visitors can buy food at the hospital kiosk/cafeteria.
See more information about opening hours under practical information on our ward pages.
Arendal kiosk
Overnight stays
All our patients are entitled to have one relative stay overnight. Alternatively, you can choose to have a friend stay overnight.
Doctor’s rounds
The doctor makes rounds every day during the morning. During the rounds, you will receive the results of tests and examinations and learn about the further treatment plan. Write down any questions you want to ask the doctor, and feel free to write down the answers when you get them.
Isolation
If you have an infectious disease that could spread to other patients on the ward, you will be isolated. This means you will have a private room and will not be able to leave it. We will bring you the food and supplies you need.
You may have visitors, but visitors are not allowed to stay in the ward where they could spread the infection to others.
Relax, we’ve seen it all
While you are here, you may have to talk about or do things that you find uncomfortable. You should know that nothing is too silly or too embarrassing for us. Perhaps this is exactly the embarrassing information that is important for your assessment and treatment?
Social media/photos/audio recordings
Many patients and relatives want to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. Of course, you may do so, as long as you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.
Here are a few good tips on using social media for patients and relatives:
- Be considerate of others. You must have consent if you want to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients are entitled to privacy while in hospital.
- Parents/guardians decide whether you may take photos of children or publish photos of their children online. Parents should consider what is best for the child. Once the child has turned 12, great weight must be given to the child’s views. Once the child has turned 15, they decide for themselves whether they are happy to be photographed and whether the photos may be published.
- Remember that staff must also give their permission if you want to publish photos you have taken of them.
- You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If others have posted photos of you online without permission, you can ask them to delete them.If you are not listened to, you can contact:www.slettmeg.no.
Audio recordings
It is not illegal to make recordings of conversations in which you participate for private use. However, publishing and sharing them requires the consent of the person you are speaking with. Secretly recording conversations you do not participate in is illegal.
Stressed, tired or upset
Being admitted to hospital can be a psychological challenge, especially if you are admitted for a long time. You may miss your friends and miss out on social activities. You may have a diagnosis that worries you. All of this can cause emotional difficulties.
Talk to someone about it. Talk to your family, friends or those of us who work here.
SMI School
SMI School teaches primary and secondary school pupils who are admitted to the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescents at Sørlandet Hospital.