Some people are ill or injured.
These people need help from a doctor.
These people are also called patients.
A doctor has to treat these patients.

The doctor sends some patients to hospital.
Because sometimes the patient needs an examination with a device.
Or the patient needs an important treatment.
This treatment is only available in hospital.
Perhaps the patient needs an operation.

Sometimes a patient has an emergency.
This means:
The patient needs help very quickly.
Perhaps he has had an accident.
Or perhaps they have a serious injury.
These patients often arrive at the hospital in an ambulance.

Patients in hospital are very different.
All patients have different illnesses or injuries.

Some patients only come to the hospital for one day.
The patients receive treatment.
And then they go home again on the same day.
This is called outpatient treatment.

Other patients stay in hospital overnight.
Sometimes these patients even stay in hospital for many days.
This is called inpatient treatment.

After an operation, for example, the patient has to stay in hospital for a few days.
The patient is given a room on a ward.

A ward is a part of a hospital.
A hospital has many wards.

For example:

• A ward for babies
• A ward for people with eye diseases
• A ward for old people
• A ward for people with abdominal pain

The patient is allocated a room on the ward.
There are often other patients sleeping in the room.
The patient is given a bed to sleep in.
And the patient is given food and drink.

The doctor talks to the patient every day.
And the patient gets help from the carer.
This is what the carer does, for example:

• Apply a new dressing
• Giving an injection
• Help the patient to the toilet

You must always bring these things with you:

• The insurance card from your health insurance company
• The referral from your doctor
• A letter from the doctor to the hospital
• Are you taking medication? Then you need a list of your medication.

Are you staying overnight?
Then you will also need these things:

• Fresh clothes
• Your medication
• A sleep suit
• A toothbrush

Take good care of your belongings.
Sometimes thieves come to the hospital.
The thieves steal expensive things from patients.

Expensive things are for example

• Your watch
• Your wallet

Or perhaps you lose something in hospital.
So it's better to leave expensive things at home.
And if something does get lost?
Then unfortunately our hospital cannot give you any money for it.

This means:
You must take good care of your expensive items yourself.

There is a small safe in some rooms.
This is a very small cupboard in the wardrobe.
There is a key for the safe.
You can put your expensive things in the safe.
And you can lock the safe.
Unfortunately, the safe is only available in some rooms.
Ask your carer about the safe.

You will find these things in your room:

You can use the internet in our hospital.
The internet is free of charge.
There is also a telephone in every patient's room.
You can use the telephone free of charge.
You also have a radio and television in your room.