Information for carers, family and friends

Our Carers Centre, based at our Northampton hospital, is open for visitors between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. The team can be contacted on 01604 616125 to support with any queries you may have, and the team can support you wherever you are located.

We realise that it's not an easy time for you when a relative or friend comes to live at St Andrew's.

Please be reassured St Andrew’s is here to provide the best possible care for them. As a charity, our aim is to transform lives, helping people progress to living as independently as is possible for them.

Our care plans are tailored to each individual, and we work with them to find therapies and treatments that suit each person’s needs and preferences. At every stage our staff are open and honest with the patient and, where appropriate, their families and carers.

We value and welcome your involvement, so please do talk to the team on the ward about how you can be play a role in care decisions and be part of a regular dialogue with us.

We embrace the 'Triangle of Care' approach - a well established working practice that makes sure carers are highly involved in the patient's care programme.

Our new 'guide for family and friends' can be downloaded here.

Visiting St Andrew's

We encourage visits from family and friends, and visits should be arranged through social workers or the ward. When booking, please consider the patient's programme of care.

Click here to see our locations

On your first visit

When visiting, you should go directly to the reception of the area where your friend or relative is staying. There, your photographic identification will be verified, so please bring those documents with you. You will then be escorted to the visiting.

Click here to see the photo ID that we accept

Birthdays and occasions

We always try our best to accommodate special visits, like birthdays or other occasions. Gifts are best left unwrapped so they can be checked and food should be sealed in its packaging. If you’re unsure, please contact the ward before visiting.

Click here to contact us

Keeping in touch with your loved one

Phone: All patients have access to a payphone to make or receive calls. You'll be given the numbers by your St Andrew's contact - or call our switchboard on 01604 616000 and ask for the ward.

Email: Emails can be passed on to your friend or relative as long as they are clearly named. It's also possible to use email for updates from our staff. Speak to your main contact for more details.

Skype: Most wards have Skype equipment so a video call is usually possible by arrangement.

Letter / parcel: Please ensure the person's name and ward are clearly marked. Parcels will be opened in front of staff.

Keeping in touch with St Andrew’s: We have a Carers, Families and Friends Strategy Monitoring Group which involves staff, carers and members of the community. You are very welcome to join this group, which meets in Northampton. For meeting dates and more information please email carerscentre@standrew.co.uk.

Keeping in touch with other carers: There are a number of support groups for carers, both locally and nationally. Please contact us for more information or visit the Carers Trust website.

The key people caring for your loved one

Responsible Clinician: This person is responsible for making decisions about the type of treatment.

Nurse Manager: This person has responsibility for the daily running of the ward, organising staff, their shifts and rotas. Some have responsibility for more than one ward.

Clinical Nurse Lead: This person oversees and co-ordinates the care of all patients on a ward. She/He assesses health risks and ensures that good quality care is received.

Care Co-ordinator: Each patient has a member of staff who ensures that they're receiving the care and treatment decided in their care package. The care co-ordinator is the patient’s main contact.

Social Worker: The main link or contact between the St Andrew’s and the patient’s family and friends. She/He plays a vital part on admission, discharge and transfer.

Multi-disciplinary team: The team of experts that work together to support each patient.

Information for carers, family and friends

Visiting St Andrew's

On your first visit

Birthdays and occasions

Keeping in touch with your loved one

The key people caring for your loved one

Support for carers

Our locations

Find a ward