A CALL SIGNAL near your bed can be used to summon a nurse. When you press the button, a light goes on at the nurse's station and a bell rings. A nurse will then come to your room, or may contact you through an intercom system from the nurse's station.

YOUR BED can be electronically raised and lowered to the position most comfortable for you. Your nurse will show you how to operate these controls. Unless you have permission from your nurse, please do not try to get out of bed by yourself. If you need assistance, call your nurse.

TELEPHONE SERVICE is available to all patients. Incoming calls may be received daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm. To use the telephone: local calls - dial 9 and the 7-digit number; all out-of-area calls must be billed to a credit card, home phone, or called collect. These can be connected by dialing "0" only, then give the operator your billing preference. Remember, only local calls may be placed directly at no cost to you.

TELEVISION is available to patients.

Meals
The Food and Nutrition Services Department takes pride in providing you with quality meals while adhering to any special dietary restrictions that your physician may have ordered.

A selective menu will be provided for you daily. Please take a few minutes each morning to choose your meals for the day. Your menu can be returned on your breakfast tray or a dietary staff member will pick it up shortly after breakfast.

Your meals will be served at the following times:
Breakfast 8:00am
Lunch 12:00pm
Dinner 5:00pm

Beverages and snacks are available between meals by request from your nurse. Patients' guests are invited to visit our cafeteria for snacks or meals. The cafeteria is open all day for coffee and cold snacks. Hot meals are served as follows:

Breakfast 8:00am to 10:00am
Lunch 11:30am to 1:30pm
Dinner 5:00pm to 6:00pm

On weekends and holidays, hot breakfast is not available and lunch is served from 12:00 to 1:00pm only.

A clinical dietician is available for consultation if you should have questions concerning your diet or have a special request concerning your meals. Let us know if we can make your stay more comfortable.

Lounge
The patients may use the patient lounge on the second floor of the hospital at any time and by visitors during visiting hours. Children should not be left unattended in this area.

Flowers
Flowers and other gifts are delivered to patients as they are received. No flowers will be delivered to Intensive Care Units. They will be held at the nurse's station and given to the patient's family.

Lost and Found
All items found on hospital premises are held at the main desk in the lobby for 60 days. Items not claimed will be discarded.

Mail
Your mail will be delivered to your room Monday through Saturday. Letters that arrive after you leave the hospital will be forwarded to your home.

Newspapers
The Union Leader is available from the volunteer staff.

Volunteer Services
Volunteers work on the Medical-Surgical floor providing water and juices, transporting patients, helping with clerical work, and supplying much appreciated TLC to the patients.

Notary
The services of a notary public are available while you are hospitalized, weekdays between 10:00am and 2:00pm for notarizing hospital-related documents. Please call extension 235 or 231.

Our medical social workers/discharge planners are available to help meet your special needs during and after your hospital stay. Your hospitalization may be brief, but it can often magnify your social, emotional, and economic problems. Working in collaboration with doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff, the medical social work staff assists patients or families in many ways, including:

• Support in coping with emotional stresses of injury or illness.
• Planning and coordinating services the patient may need when leaving Speare Memorial Hospital or transferring to another facility.

If you have any questions about these services, please ask your physician or call (603) 536-6216.

Your Health Care Team
More than 200 people are involved in making your stay at Speare Memorial Hospital as comfortable and healthful as possible....

A Few Hospital Departments
As a patient at Speare Memorial Hospital, you may receive services from these departments ...

History of Speare Memorial Hospital
Speare Memorial Hospital had its beginnings in 1892. Click here to see historic photos and learn about our beginnings as a community hospital.