Hospital Information
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Chippenham Hospital is managed by Wiltshire Health and Care, a partnership, focused solely on delivering improved community services in Wiltshire and enabling people to live independent and fulfilling lives for as long as possible.
They are an NHS partnership formed by the three local Foundation Trusts which serve Wiltshire:
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
They are responsible for the delivery of adult community health services in Wiltshire, with our contract extended to 31 March 2024.
With their own Board and a dedicated leadership team they draw on the expertise of committed professionals, along with drive and the ambition to work in partnership with organisations across Wiltshire to care for our local population.
They have a long term plan for services and know they can only achieve their aims by forming effective partnerships with GPs, primary care, social services, our acute partners, mental health services, voluntary sector organisations and engaging with the people of Wiltshire.
If you need to contact them, their address is:
Chippenham Community Hospital
Rowden Hill
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN15 2AJ
Chippenham Community Hospital
Chippenham Community Hospital
Rowden Hill
Chippenham
SN15 2AJ
Main reception number: 01249 447100
The Hospital has two inpatient wards, a Birthing Centre and a Minor Injuries Unit.
Cedar Ward
Ward Reception: 01249 456489 or 01249 456486
Ward Manager: 01249 456583
Visiting Times (Daily)
Afternoon: 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Evening: 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Mulberry Ward (Stroke Unit)
Ward Reception: 01249 456476
Ward Manager: 01249 456566
Visiting Times (Daily)
Afternoon: 2.00pm - 4.45pm
Evening: 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Chippenham Birthing Centre
Appointments Line: 01249 456467 (Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 1.00pm/Closed weekends and bank holidays)
Midwife Office: 01249 456434
Opening Times (Daily)
8.00am – 8.00pm (please note you can access the Birthing Centre 24/7 by calling the Midwife Office number)
The Chippenham Birthing Centre allows only partners or one other person to accompany women to post-natal appointments.
Women are currently only staying at the Birthing Centre for up to 3 hours post delivery and partners can stay with them during this time.
No children are allowed into the Birthing Centre currently.
Minor Injuries Unit
Opening Times
8.00am - 8.00pm
Chippenham MIU is open 7 days a week for walk in patients and for patients who have contacted NHS 111, either by phone or online and have been advised to attend.
Patients will be assessed on arrival but may need to wait to be seen, or directed to another service to receive the appropriate care.
As the unit closes at 8pm, and whilst the clinicians will make all attempts to complete your care before this time, this may not always be possible, you may be redirected to another care provider in this instance.
In an emergency phone 999 or go to the nearest Emergency Department, either in Bath (17.7 miles) or Swindon (29.4 miles).
(A yellow phone is located at the MIU entrance and can be used to call 111 or 999).
Services Provided:
- Minor cuts and lacerations, including septic wounds
- Dog and cat bites
- Bruises
- Strains and sprains
- Simple fractures and dislocations
- Minor burns and scalds
- Head injuries (if the person is not unconscious or intoxicated)
- Minor eye injuries
- Splinters & other foreign bodies in the skin, the eye, ear or the nose
- Insect bites and stings
Services Not Provided:
- Earache
- Sore throats or chest infections
- Leg ulcers
- Intravenous injections
- Blood tests
- Drug overdoses
- Intoxication
- Pregnancy related problems
- Mental health problems
If you are not sure what type of medical assistance you require you should contact NHS111 for advice.
Outpatient Departments
X-Ray
Reception: 01249 456403 or 01249 456404
Opening Times (Monday - Friday)
9.00am - 4.00pm
Physiotherapy
The Physiotherapy department at the hospital receive referrals from GP’s, Consultants and other health professionals. Once they have received your referral they will prioritise it to assess how quickly they need to see you. They try to see everyone as soon as they can and treat everyone with respect and dignity
If they need to see you quickly, you are very likely to get a phone call from them, offering you an appointment within one to two weeks. If you have had the problem for more than six weeks it is likely that you will be added to their waiting list. You will then be contacted by the Central Booking Department and offered an appointment. If they are unable to contact you by telephone an appointment letter will be sent to you in the post. You may then receive an automated telephone call or text message reminding you to attend your appointment.
If you do not attend your appointment and do not phone within 24 hours with a valid reason for not attending, you will be discharged.
If you cancel more than 2 appointments, without a valid reason, you will be discharged.
Opening Times (Monday - Thursday)
8.00am - 6.00pm
Opening Times (Friday)
8.00am - 5.30pm
Outpatients Clinics
Opening Times (Monday - Friday)
9.00am - 5.00pm
When you come for an Outpatient appointment you will need:
- Appointment letter
- Any medicines that you are currently taking (or a list of them)
- A urine sample (if requested)
- Your glasses (for eye clinics)
- A face covering/mask
If you have any questions or need to cancel an appointment, call the number on your appointment letter.
Telephone reminder service
The NHS Trust operate a free telephone reminder service for all patients with an outpatient appointment at Chippenham Community Hospital.
By providing a reminder, the hospital can help patients who may have forgotten their appointment, and make it easier for patients who wish to cancel or rearrange it.
This reduces the number of missed appointments; and it gives the hospital the chance to offer the appointment to another patient, which helps minimise waiting times and saves money.
You will receive a text message or automated phone call about a week before your appointment to remind you about the location, date and time; and you will be asked to confirm, cancel or rearrange.
If the hospital has your mobile phone number, you will receive a text reminder but if you don’t have a mobile, you can receive a call on your landline number.
If you receive a call, you will be asked to confirm your date of birth before you hear your appointment details.
The service is completely confidential and governed by strict regulations on privacy and Data Protection.
Inpatients
If you are due to be admitted to one of the wards at the hospital you will need some basic items for your stay:
- Toiletries/wash bag/towel
- Nightdress/pyjamas
- Dressing gown/housecoat
- Slippers
- Moist wipes
- Gentlemen - own razors
- Book or magazine
- Notebook and pen
- Any medication currently prescribed
Please try to avoid bringing in personal valuables as the hospital cannot accept responsibility for personal property. If this is unavoidable, please hand any valuables to the Ward Sister when you arrive, who will then register the items and issue a receipt. Your valuables will then be taken to security for safe storage.
Inpatient Services
General Information
Parking at the Chippenham Community Hospital
There are three main car parks on site including disable bays and parking for cycles close to the hospital entrance.
The hospital uses an Automatic Number Plate Recognition System, where cameras record car registrations when entering the site.
Please ensure you enter your car registration into the keypads which you'll find on the wall in locations around the hospital and at every reception point.
Failure to do so will mean you receive a parking penalty notice.
Please note the ANPR system is not managed by the hospital and is operated by an external company, who you will need to contact directly should you wish to query a penalty notice.
Taking photos or videos at Chippenham Community Hospital
Wiltshire Health & Care recognises that on special occasions patients and their families may wish to take photographs or video themselves whilst in hospital (e.g. for the birth of a baby).
As far as possible the WHC would like to accommodate those wishes however in doing so must take into consideration the needs and feelings of other patients and staff in clinical or ward areas.
They therefore have requested that patients and visitors comply with the following:
- The Senior Nurse or Midwife on duty must give permission for the images to be taken.
- Images must only be taken of your relative. Be aware of other patients/visitors/staff who may appear in the background. They need to agree to their photograph being taken.
- If permission has been given for a video with sound, please be aware it will record all of the sounds in that area and therefore please do your recording away from the ward.
- Staff must be asked permission to be recorded and their wishes must be adhered to.
- Members of the public recording images or sounds against the organisation's advice or without the appropriate consent may be liable to prosecution.
Wiltshire Health and Care welcome Assistance Dogs into the public areas of the hospital at al times without restrictions or prior notice.
Pets As Therapy animals visit inpatient wards only where prior arrangements have been made between the ward and the PAT registered charity.
Please note, pet owners must not bring their animals with them when entering the hospital, attending out-patient clinics or visiting the wards.
Facilities & Accessibility
Chippenham Community Hospital offers a Braille translation service, RNID typetalk, Signing service Induction loop, wheelchair access and step free access.
If you need access to translation or signing services, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 01793 604031.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Community Hospital site and this includes entrances or hospital grounds (both indoors and outdoors).
This policy applies to all staff, patients and visitors.
This is in line with national guidance on smoke-free environments in hospitals and supports the NHS Trust's commitment to reduce the risks of smoking for everyone.
The Friends and Family Test
This is a way for patients, along with their friends, relatives and carers, to tell the NHS Trust which runs Chippenham Community Hospital, not only what went well during their visit, but also where improvements can be made for the benefit of future patients.
Based around the principle of whether the patient would recommend the Trust to others, the Friends and Family Test also asks the patient to rate a number of factors which could affect experience, such as waiting time, cleanliness and information provided by staff.
The test, which is in use across all wards and departments, is given to patients on their departure from hospital, with the scores then collated into a monthly report to give staff an insight into their performance through the eyes of patients. If you don’t get given a form, just ask at the reception desk for one.
The test also gives patients and their family the opportunity to raise complaints and concerns with the Trust directly.
So make sure you complete the form and pop it in one of the Friends & Family Test Collection boxes located around the hospital. For further information, visit www.gwh.nhs.uk
Just Visiting
The Community Hospital support Justvisiting.com, a free and confidential website which provides a safe and secure way for relatives and friends to keep each other updated on a patient's progress while they are in hospital.
Patients can then visit the website - benefiting from more social contact and interaction, while family and friends can log on to view your progress and stay in touch.
For further information or to use this service go to www.justvisiting.com
Hearing Aids
Replacement batteries for your hearing aids are no longer available from Chippenham Community Hospital.
You should now request them by sending a stamped address envelope to the audiology department at the following address:
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust
Combe Park
Bath
BA1 3NG
Please ensure you include a large second class stamp.
Catering
The Grapevine restaurant is open to visitors and local residents.
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am - 3.30pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Fresh, made to order sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, salads, jacket potatoes (with a choice of fillings; cheese, baked beans, tuna mayo).
Also drinks, crisps, chocolate and homemade shortbread & flapjacks.
Information on food allergens and ingredients is available upon request from any of the catering staff.
Payment is credit card only.
Hospital Trolley Service
A Mobile Hospital Trolley Shop operates around the Hospital between the hours of 10.30am until 12.30pm (Monday – Saturday).
Selling a range of items, like newspapers, magazines, puzzles, toiletries, stationary and confectionary.
Community Groups & Organisations
Chippenham Hospital League of Friends
The Chippenham Hospital League of Friends are a registered charity whose aims are to supply the Chippenham hospital with items of equipment, furniture, amenities and services which are beyond the scope of the NHS.
Amongst the many different kinds of expenditure which the League have met in the past are:
- Christmas gifts for patients
- Special patient mattresses
- Hoist to enable patients to get in and out of bed or the bath
- Children’s toys
- Television sets for the wards
- Medical equipment to ease child birth in the Birthing Centre
If you’d like more information on the Chippenham Hospital League of Friends, write to Miss E Sexton, 14 Heron Way, Chippenham, SN14 0XE or e-mail carole@mizon.net
Wiltshire Wheelchair Service
The Wiltshire Wheelchair Service is an NHS service providing loan wheelchairs and specialist supportive seating to people of all ages who have a long-term mobility need.
You may be eligible for a wheelchair from WWS if:-
- You are registered with a NHS Wiltshire GP.
- You will have a long-term physical condition that restricts your mobility and the wheelchair is used by you regularly throughout the week.
- The wheelchair will be required for a minimum of six months unless there is a life expectancy of less than six months that requires a rapid response from the Service.
The WWS supplies the following types of chairs, pressure and postural equipment on the wheelchair according to your assessed clinical needs:-
- Wheelchairs that someone else pushes for you (attendant propelled wheelchair)
- Wheelchairs that you can physically propel yourself (self-propelled wheelchair)
- Powered wheelchairs- mainly for indoor use with outdoor capability, (only when you are unable to walk or self -propel around your home).
- Wheelchairs for children, including buggies (where a shop bought buggy does not meet your child’s clinical need).
- Pressure relieving cushions for use in the wheelchair to meet your assessed clinical need
- Special postural seating to help you maintain an optimal sitting posture when you are unable to do this yourself. This could include a tilt in space function on the wheelchair.
It is worth noting that the service does not:-
- Supply a wheelchair to be used in place of a static chair where the latter would be more appropriate.
- The Service does not supply three or four-wheeled scooters, electric buggies or powered wheelchairs for outdoor use only (Also known as EPOCs)
- The Service does not supply wheelchairs that will solely be used in a work situation. These are accessible by other government means, such as Access to Work.
- A wheelchair will not be issued to specifically meet sporting requirements.
- The Service does not supply Wheelchairs; powered or non-powered that will solely be used in a school or other place of education. These are provided by application through Education.
- The Service does not supply wheelchairs for portering in hospitals or care homes
- The Service does not supply all weather clothing, rain covers, sunshades or spare tyres.
- Pressure relieving cushions are solely for wheelchair use
- The Service will not supply ‘e-motion’ or other assisted hand rim systems.
How do I get referred to WWS?
If you think you meet the above criteria, talk to your GP, community Physiotherapist or local authority / community Occupational Therapist and ask them to make a referral on the WWS referral form. On receipt of the referral WWS will review the referral and contact you, either to gain more information about your needs, or to advise you of the next step in the process to receiving a wheelchair as appropriate.
WWS assessment process of your needs
On receipt of a referral, a trained wheelchair therapist will decide if a wheelchair can be sent to you, or if you need to be assessed further for a wheelchair to meet your clinical needs.
If you need further assessment this is generally carried out at one of our clinics. In certain circumstances either due to your clinical condition, or we need to assess your home environment, an assessment may be carried out in your home.
What happens at your assessment?
A wheelchair therapist will talk with you and your carers about your medical conditions that affect your mobility, and measure you for a wheelchair to meet your clinical needs. The assessment may include an assessment of your posture and any pressure issues you may have due to long periods of sitting.
What happens after your assessment?
The wheelchair therapist will order the wheelchair and cushion that will best meet your clinical and mobility needs as determined during the assessment. The ordering and delivery of a wheelchair to WWS may take up to 8 weeks.
This wheelchair will be either delivered by the WWS to your home or you may need to return to clinic to have the wheelchair specifically set up to your clinical needs.
Contact information:
Wiltshire Wheelchair Service
Melksham Community Hospital,
Spa Road,
Melksham SN12 7NZ
Telephone: 01225 899130