Keeping in Touch

By phone
Each ward has a portable pay phone which can be brought to your bed or used in the day room. You will need small change for the phone.

If you need a telephone number the staff will be happy to find it for you, or you may be able to dial the hospital switchboard for any queries.

Mobile phones
Mobile phones affect the safe operation of some sensitive medical equipment.  Their use within hospitals has to be carefully managed.

The use of mobile phones is now permitted in some areas of the hospital and on some wards. Please check to see if this sign is present before using your mobile phone. If in doubt, ask staff before switching it on.

Mobile phones in hospitals can also disturb other patients, so on wards where they are permitted they should be set to 'silent' and they must be switched off if this is requested by staff.  We request that patients do not use their mobile phones between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00pm.  This is so that all patients can get the rest they need.

Electronic devices and personal equipment

Personal electronic devices such as MP3/MP4 players, iPods and laptops must only be used if permission is given by ward staff.  Again, please be considerate of other patients and visitors when using such items.

 

By post
There are post boxes in the main reception areas of the Royal Infirmary, the Paediatric and Surgical Block and the Maternity Unit. Post is collected every weekday, with the last collection in the late afternoon.

If you are not able to get to the post box a member of staff will be happy to help.

If anyone wants to send mail to you during your stay, it should be addressed to you by name and show the ward you are on. The addresses are:

City General Hospital
Newcastle Road
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 6QG

Royal Infirmary
Princes Road
Hartshill
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 7LN

Electronic communications
At the moment we are not able to offer facilities for patients to send emails, but if someone wants to send an email to you they can send it to the Trust email and the message will be passed on to the ward staff for you as long as the message shows your name and ward.