Your stay in hospital

If you need to be admitted to hospital, you will be asked to contact the admissions office to confirm your reservation, according to the usual procedure (legal forms for the admission). 

 

What do I need to bring?

Good preparation will make your stay in hospital easier.
Read this advice before visiting the various CHIREC sites.

When you are admitted

• your identity card
• your SIS card from your mutual health insurer
• the address and telephone number of your contact person
• your certificate of cover from your mutual health insurer, the CPAS [public social services centre] or your insurer
• your deposit, depending on your choice of room and the expected length of stay

In the case of an industrial accident

• name and address of your employer
• name and address of the insurance company
• insurance policy number

For your hospital doctor

• a letter from your GP, if applicable
• all medical documents containing information about your health (blood group, X-rays, results of investigations carried out, etc.)
• your regular medications and/or those taken recently
• your certificate of unfitness for work (confidential form provided by your mutual health insurer)

Personal items

• night clothes, underwear, dressing gown, shoes, slippers, etc.
• toiletries (soap, towels, flannels, comb, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, tissues, etc.)
• books, newspapers, spectacles, writing materials, etc.

The hospital is a public place and it is difficult, if not impossible, to keep a check on people who come and go.
You are strongly recommended not to bring any valuable items (jewellery, money, etc.) into hospital.
If necessary (emergency admissions) you can leave valuables - with the help of a nurse if needed - at the entrance hall (this service is not available at Braine-l'Alleud - Waterloo hospital) or in the safe in your room (private rooms have a personal safe with a user-selected code).
In two- and four-bedded rooms, a safe can be hired from the nurse in charge of the department. 

The Management declines all responsibility in the event of theft, and the insurance taken out by the hospital does not provide cover against theft without break-in.

Please do not forget

• to ask your GP to complete your sick note without delay. This note must be sent to your employer or your mutual health insurer (or insurance company) as soon as possible.
• inform the post office if you are receiving a pension.
• inform the nurse if a member of your family wishes to spend the night in your room. NB: this is only possible in a private room.
• make sure you have your badge when you need to have an investigation.
• inform the nurse in charge when you leave the ward (for example if you go out to have coffee with your family).
  
  

Your stay in hospital

Your room

Once the admission formalities have been completed, you will be shown to your room. 

Subject to availability, we will always try to respect your choice of room. This may, however, not correspond to your initial choice.
We make every effort to deal with your requests as quickly as possible and we ask for your understanding in this matter. A nurse will welcome you and help you to settle in. She will also explain how to use the equipment provided for your safety and comfort.

The telephone

There is a telephone in your room.
Your individual number is your bed number preceded by:

The total cost of your calls will be added to your hospital bill.

To prevent calls being charged to you after you leave, do not forget to inform the nurse of the time when you are leaving and also on admission, so that your line can be closed.
You should also inform your family and friends that you are leaving hospital, to avoid disturbing the next patient.

The television

All rooms are equipped with a television set. You can watch your chosen programmes from your bed. On the Basilique site, a refundable deposit is required for the remote control and there is a charge for television services in rooms with 2 or more beds.

Internet access

If you wish to have access to the internet, the admissions office can inform you of the procedure to arrange this. At the Edith Cavell site, internet access can be purchased from the counter from 08.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00 on weekdays. (This service is currently available on the Edith Cavell, Parc Leopold and Braine-l'Alleud - Waterloo sites).

Your meals

There is a varied choice of menus on offer. These are devised by catering specialists in collaboration with the nutrition department. Depending on your medical history, the doctors and nurses may contact the nutrition department to produce a special diet for you. Please do not hesitate to contact the nurses or request a visit from the dietitian if you have any questions about food.

During the week our team of volunteers will come round with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoons.

Cafeteria, Room Service

At some of our sites you can enjoy quality food at our high-quality "Tasty" restaurant outlets. You can use their "Room Service" by contacting them directly on the telephone numbers below:

You will also find daily newspapers, a small selection of books, confectionery and flowers.

Visiting

Visits can be both pleasurable and comforting. Children are welcome, but we ask you to make sure that they behave calmly to ensure everyone's well-being. Also out of respect, please ask your family and friends not to visit in large numbers and to keep to the permitted times.

If, for exceptional reasons, you would like to receive visits at special times, please contact the nurse in charge of the department.

If you wish to set up an additional bed for the night (only in private rooms), please contact the nurse.

Other services (hairdressing - pedicure - beautician)

At some of our sites (Basilique, Cavell, Parc Leopold and Braine-l’Alleud - Waterloo), these services are available for you. If you wish to make use of them, the procedure is as follows:

Your post

Your post is delivered to you every day.
Please ask those writing to you to indicate your three-digit room number.

Religious or moral support

The hospitals aim to ensure that everyone's personal philosophical beliefs are respected. You will be given a form on admission. Please complete it if you wish to receive assistance from the chaplain or religious representative of your choice, or to talk to a non-religious counsellor.

Miscellaneous

Cut flowers are allowed in the rooms, but potted plants are not recommended and should therefore be avoided.

We must also remind you that smoking is forbidden on the premises. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Leaving hospital

Your doctor will inform you of the date and time when you can leave hospital.

The nurse or ward clerk will give you your X-rays and administrative documents. Please remember to take your personal possessions with you. At the Edith Cavell site, patients must inform the desk that they are leaving (and hand in the drinks sheet).

You will receive a total bill for your stay in hospital by post, detailing the accommodation costs, all the investigations you have had during your stay, pharmacy, specific equipment, miscellaneous costs, etc. as well as medical fees, from which are deducted the amounts reimbursed by your mutual health insurer and any deposits you have made.

You should not under any circumstances pay the fees directly to your doctor.
If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact our Billing department, which is open from Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 12.00.

This department can be reached on the following numbers:

 

 

 

When you get home

We hope you are satisfied with the quality of the care and services provided while you were staying with us. Nevertheless, we are always seeking to improve our services, so we would be glad to hear from you with any comments or suggestions. If you were not able to complete the satisfaction questionnaire that was given to you during your stay, please do not hesitate to post it to us. Please use the postage-paid envelope provided.

If you have any questions about your health or your treatment, please do not hesitate to contact your doctor.