Weston General Hospital, Weston-super-Mare

This hospital is part of Weston Area Health NHS Trust

General hospital information

  • Number of beds: 249
  • % of single rooms: 20%
  • Total parking spaces: 316
  • Average parking fee per hour: £1.50

Address & description

Weston General Hospital,
Grange Road, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare, England, BS23 4TQ
Tel: Work 01934 636363
Weston General Hospital

Weston Area Health NHS Trust provides acute services for a 200,000-strong local population and for 2.5 million summer visitors to this popular West Country seaside resort.

It is an exciting time for the Trust as it has just opened a new £8.5m state-of-the-art Urgent Care Centre, in addition to a new suite for its MRI and CT Scanners which opened only 12 months ago. The Trust is proud to have achieved unconditional registration from the Care Quality Commission and also to have been publicly recognised by the national NHS campaign Patient Safety First for its progress in putting patient safety at the top of its priorities and being seen to do so by its patients and the public.

More distinction came from the National Dignity Ambassador Sir Michael Parkinson, who said on his visit to the Trust: “To me, the staff and volunteers at Weston hospital embodied the ethos of the Dignity in Care campaign, each person making their own contribution, however small, to make things better.”

Services include in-patient facilities for surgical and medical specialities, as well as maternity services, community paediatrics and child and adolescent mental health services, x-ray, pathology, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, audiology and pathology and radiology and other support services.

The Trust has two dedicated daycase operating theatres, together with a single-sex day case ward area and pre-op clinic and a new endoscopy unit

The Trust also boasts a ten-station daycase Chemotherapy Unit, which has clinical links with the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This service has improved patient choice and enabled people in North Somerset and Sedgemoor to be treated locally, avoiding the need for treatment in Bristol for a range of conditions.

Out-patient services include Dermatology, Ophthalmology, ENT, Vascular Surgery, Paediatrics, Cardio-thoracic surgery, Neurology, Oncology and Sexual Health Medicine.

Low-risk obstetric care is provided within a midwifery-led maternity service. This unit works in partnership with St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol, for higher risk cases.

* this profile text was provided by Weston Area Health NHS Trust

Select a procedure

Services at Weston General Hospital

General Services Information

Hospital Questions

  • How many single rooms are available to NHS patients at this hospital: 55
  • Of these how many have an ensuite toilet: 25
  • Of these how many have an ensuite toilet and shower or bath: 25
  • Does this hospital operate an accident and emergency unit: Yes
  • How many specialist palliative care beds are available at this hospital: 0 comments10 beds available at Weston Hospice
  • Does this hospital have a named private unit/service: Yes
  • What is the name of the private unit/service: Waterside Suite
  • How many beds are available within the private unit/service: 12
  • How many single rooms are available within the private unit/service: 10
  • Of these, how many have an ensuite toilet: 10
  • Of these, how many have an ensuite toilet and shower or bath: 10
  • Direct telephone number for the private unit: 01934 427900

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust treat private patients: Yes

Patient Safety

Trust Questions

  • Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for a foreign body being left post surgery: Datix
  • Is there a system for recording operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Datix and Opera
  • Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Datix
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: 0
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations were cancelled due to missing notes: 0
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: 0
  • How many incident investigations using a full Root Cause Analysis did were carried out in 2010/11: 76
  • What percentage of patient safety incidents resulting in severe harm or death had a full RCA initiated/completed: 100%
  • What percentage of acute inpatients have a track and trigger warning system in place for the duration of the admission: 100% commentsnon electronic scoring system
  • What percentage of patients are risk assessed for venous thromboembolism on admission: 91-99%
  • Compliant with all relevant NPSA safety alerts issues in 2010/11 (you can find a full list of alerts issued at http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?p=3). : Yes
  • Does the Trust have a policy for providing educational programmes on using and interpreting clinical indicators: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a designated member of staff who supports teams in locating and analysing safety and quality data? (support): Yes
  • Is safety and quality data available on a central platform and actively disseminated to users: Yes

Infection Control

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust employ an antibiotic pharmacist: Yes
  • Does the Trust operate a pre-admission assessment clinic or equivalent system where patients are screened and results returned in advance of the day of admission: Yes
  • Elective patient groups screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: All elective surgical and medical commentsexcept DC endoscopy, dental, opthalmology, minor dermatology and maternity
  • Are all oncology patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all chemotherapy patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all elective neurosurgery patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: Not Applicable
  • Are all patients with past history of MRSA screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: Yes
  • What method of MRSA screening is used when screening at admission: Culture based in 24-48hrs
  • On admission, does topical suppression take place immediately: Yes commentsIf patient is positive
  • Does the Trust have at least one accident and emergency unit: Yes
  • Are all patients admitted through A&E screened: Yes
  • Is screening done according to individual risk assessment: No commentsAll patients screened on admission. All admissions are via A&E
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated isolation ward: No commentsTrust has clear isolation, escalation and cohort policy
  • Protocol for isolating patients with infections: Initial use of side rooms together with clearly defined escalation levels to cohort ward arrangements commentsinitial use of siderooms with clear escalation to cohorting procedures
  • Does the Trust have an isolation policy: Yes
  • Where medically appropriate, are patients with C Diff isolated in single rooms as a matter of priority: Yes
  • Does the Trust prescribe probiotics to any patient groups as a prophylactic measure to reduce C.difficile infections: No commentsTrust is currently participating in a trial
  • Does the Trust have a policy to guide the use of metronidazole and vancomycin for C.difficile infected patients: Yes
  • Does the Trust routinely isolate all patients with diarrhoea: Yes

Stroke Medicine

Hospital Questions

  • Does the hsopital have a specialist stroke unit: Yes
  • What type of stroke unit does the hospital have: combined acute and rehabilitation stroke unit
  • Number of beds in the unit: 20

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust have a specialist stroke unit or units: Yes
  • Is the Trust part of a stroke care network: Yes
  • Details: AGWS stroke network
  • How many emergency admissions with a primary diagnosis of stroke (ICD10 codes I60 - I64) did the Trust receive in the financial year (period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011): 295
  • Of these, what was the number of patients given a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan within 24 hrs of admission: 231
  • Is thrombolysis for stroke patients provided 24 hours per day and 7 days a week : No commentsMon - Fri 08:30hrs - 16:30hrs
  • Are there any formal arrangements with neighbouring hospitals for the emergency transfer of stroke patients who would benefit from thrombolytic treatment: Yes
  • These arrangements are with: North Bristol Trust and Bristol Royal Infirmary commentsNorth Bristol Trust and Bristol Royal Infirmary

Trauma & Orthopaedics

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust offer a trauma service: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated trauma list available 24 hours a day for the duration of the week, (Sunday to Sunday): No commentslists conducted 7 days a week afternoon and evening
  • Does the Trust offer an orthopaedics service: Yes
  • Do all the Trust's orthopaedic ward/team have a linked geriatric team with whom they have regular meetings at least once a week: Yes
  • Does the Trust run a pre-operative patient education session/class for patients to attend prior to Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR)? : Yes commentsFor TKR only. THR from autumn 2011
  • What is the estimated percentage of all patients that attend the class prior to surgery: 90 commentsgreater than 90%. all patients are offered the opportunity to attend
  • Does the Trust have a standardised anaesthetic protocol for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR) patients: Yes commentsTrust uses best practice guidelines
  • Estimated percentage compliance to this protocol: 75 commentsgreater or equal to 75%
  • Estimated percentage of the Trusts total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) patients walk within 24 hours of surgery: 90 commentsfor TKR. Currently working on THR pathway
  • Does the Trust have a specialist orthopaedic physiotherapy service which is available 7 days a week: Yes commentsFor rapid recovery hips and knees
  • How many patients' discharge's delayed due to lack of physiotherapy services at weekends - audited figure was: 0 commentsNone for hips and knees
  • How many patients' discharge's delayed due to lack of physiotherapy services at weekends - estimated figure: 10 commentsless or equal to 10%
  • Are patients for total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) admitted prior to the day of surgery: No
  • Are patient records routinely recorded using a specific multi-disciplinary team THR/TKR pathway document: Yes
  • Is this data used to monitor compliance with the agreed pathway: Yes
  • Is criteria-based discharge used: Yes commentsin line with pathway
  • Are patients routinely phoned in the first 48 hours after discharge to check on their progress: No commentsPatient satisfaction survey undertaken on discharge. Currently planning telephone follow up system

Palliative Care

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust provide a palliative care service: Yes
  • How is specialist palliative care delivered at the hospital: A multi-disciplinary specialist palliative care team
  • Does the hospital's specialist palliative team includes: A consultant in palliative medicine,A palliative care nurse
  • Is the Trust's specialist palliative care team available 24 hrs a day seven days a week: Yes commentsvia on-call and local hospice
  • Are facilities provided to support relatives and carers who wish to stay with a patient in hospital: Yes
  • Does the Trust routinely survey and evaluate the views of patients and bereaved relatives and carers regarding the delivery of care on the end of life programme: Yes

Maternity Care

Maternity Sites

  • Weston General Hospital - Midwife Led
  • How many women gave birth in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 250
  • How many babies were born in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 250
  • How many women were booked for a home birth: 25
  • How many women had a home birth? (not including births at home by accident): 21
  • Number of antenatal rooms: 0 commentsNo antenatal inpatients
  • Total antenatal beds: 0 commentsNo antenatal inpatients
  • Number of assessment area rooms (for monitoring and / or induction): 1
  • Total assessment area beds: 3
  • Number of delivery rooms: 2
  • Total delivery beds: 2
  • Number of postnatal rooms: 4
  • Total postnatal beds: 10
  • Number of rooms in obstetric high dependency unit: 0 commentsservice not provided in this unit
  • Total obstetric high dependency beds: 0 commentsService not provided in this unit
  • Number of single rooms used for both delivery and postnatal care (labour, delivery, recovery and postnatal, or LDRP, rooms): 0 commentsSeparate post natal facilities provided
  • Amenity rooms; Are women able to book a single room in advance of their birth: Yes commentsSubject to availability
  • If women can pay for a single room what is the average cost per night (GBP): 75
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal intensive care unit: No
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal high dependency unit: No
  • Does the maternity unit have a special care baby unit: No
  • Security measures - ankle bands for the baby: Yes
  • Security measures - cot alarms: No
  • Security measures - CCTV: Yes
  • Security measures - restricted access: Yes
  • Pain relief available - bath or shower: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birthing pool: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birth ball: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Massage: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Aromatherapy: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - TENS: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Epidural: Not available commentsNot appropriate in a midwife led unit
  • Pain relief available - Mobile epidural: Not available commentsNot appropirate in a midwife led unit
  • Pain relief available - Entonox (gas and air): Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Intramuscular injection: Provided by unit
  • Other pain relief: Bath
  • Total number of WTE midwives at the unit in your funded establishment, including vacant posts: 28
  • Total number of WTE midwives at the unit as staff in post, including agency and bank staff: 46 commentsno agency staff used
  • Does the unit have midwives available to provide one-to-one care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives available for home births available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives trained and experienced in water birth available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a paediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site commentsTrust does not provide inpatient paeds service. Paediatrician available mon-fri 08:30 - 20:30 for extended day care unit
  • Does the unit have an obstetrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site commentsproviding antenatal day assessment unit and clinics, care, support and advice and for post partum complications
  • Does the unit have an anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a dedicated obstetric anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: No commentsmidwife-led unit. High risk cases managed in Bristol

Trust Questions

  • Do all women have a choice about where they receive their antenatal appointments (i.e. at hospital or local health centre): Yes
  • Are NHS antenatal classes available (e.g. Parentcraft): Yes
  • Available during the daytime (until 5pm): Yes
  • Available in the evenings (after 5pm): Yes
  • Available at weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday): No
  • Available for women only groups: No
  • Available for other groups: Yes
  • Also available for: Teenagers and young mums
  • Are all women routinely offered ultrasound scans: Yes
  • Scan 1 available between: 10 - 12
  • Scan 2 available between: 20

Trust Statistics

Trust Questions

Consultants at Weston General Hospital

The consultants listed below work at this hospital. If you can't find the consultant you're looking for, visit the consultant guide to search our directory of more than 35,000 consultants working in the UK consultant guide.

Filter by specialty: