Private Hospital - Your Hospital Stay

Before Day Surgery

Please ensure you have someone to collect and drive you home after the procedure. You will not be permitted to leave alone or use public transport.

If you are having day surgery, you should also arrange to have someone stay with you at home on the day and night of the surgery.
Please read the following instructions carefully.
By co-operating and working together with us, your procedure will be a smooth, safe and positive experience.

Morning surgery: - Do not eat or drink after 12 midnight the night before (including chewing gum).
Afternoon surgery: - Have a light breakfast (e.g. tea and toast or fruit) before 7 a.m.
Do not eat or drink after this time (including chewing gum).

Take all medications (regardless of fasting) with a small amount of water at the usual times. Bring all medication with you.
If you are diabetic do not take insulin or diabetic medication unless instructed by your doctor to do so. Bring all medication including insulin with you.
Consult your doctor prior to surgery if taking Aspirin, anti-inflammatories or diuretics (fluid tablets), to determine if you are to cease or alter medication regimes.
Notify us, if you have any special dietary requirements.
Inform your surgeon if there is any untoward change in your health leading up to your procedure (e.g. cold or fever).
Bring in relevant x-rays and referrals.
Do not bring in valuables or large sums of money, as the hospital will not accept responsibility for loss.
Do not wear make-up, nail polish or jewellery.
Wear loose and comfortable clothing.
Bring in reading material if desired.
Do not smoke for at least 24 hours before your procedure.
Nursing staff will advise you of an approximate discharge time.

After Day Surgery

You will be taken to the Recovery Room where you will stay until you are ready to return to the recliner area.

Light refreshments will be provided before you are discharged.

DO NOT for the remainder of the day and the night following your procedure perform the following:

Drive
Drink alcohol
Use public transport without an escort (including taxi)
Operate machinery
Make important personal or business decisions
Sign legal documents
The Day Surgery Unit will organise a follow up appointment for you, and / or any discharge medications where specified by your doctor.

A special discharge information sheet will also be given to you before you leave.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time either before or after your admission if you have any queries. Our Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day should you require any urgent assistance, although we would encourage you first to contact your doctor.

Private or Public Patients
You can choose to be treated as a private or public patient. Public patients are not required to pay for their stay in hospital and are treated by a team of doctors nominated by the hospital. Private patients will be billed according to their health insurance. Private patients can be treated by a doctor of their choice provided that doctor has a right to practice at this hospital. Overseas patients from countries that do not have reciprocal rights with Australia under Medicare will be required to pay for their hospital accommodation and treatment.

Workcover, TAC and Veterans Affairs patients will have their hospital expenses covered by these third party providers.

Special arrangements also exist for overseas students and visitors. More information about admission classification is contained in the Patient Admission and Classification Information brochure or you can telephone the Patient Liaison Officer on (02) 6201 6189 for advice.

Leaving hospital

We aim to involve you and your family or carers in planning for your discharge from the hospital. This planning may include arrangements for you to receive continued nursing, rehabilitation or other support services at another facility or at home.

What day will I Leave
As part of your admission and discharge planning process, most patients will be given an estimated discharge date. The final decision rests with your doctor but it is the aim of everybody at Calvary Health Care ACT to get you home as quickly as possible. To enable you to go home, there is often a lot of preparation that needs to occur. This preparation can commence even before you arrive at the hospital.

What Time Should I Leave
To enable preparation of the room for new patients, the hospital asks you to vacate room by 10.00 am. If your family/carers cannot pick you up until later in the day or if your bed is needed urgently, your nurse will transfer you to the Discharge Lounge on the ground floor where you will be able to wait in comfort until they arrive. Medications can be dispensed by Pharmacy to patients waiting in the Discharge lounge.

Transport home
You or your family or carers will need to organise your transport home. If you wish to use a patient transport service such as a road or air ambulance, you will need to pay for this service.

If the hospital has to transfer you to another facility, it will pay for all relevant costs. If you choose to be transferred to another health facility, you will be responsible for paying the transport costs.

Medications
If you need medication to take home, the doctor will prescribe a few days supply. Prescriptions provided by the hospital are charged at the same rate as your local chemist and everything you spend on medications in the hospital goes towards your "safety net" amount.

The Hospital pharmacists can advise you about the continuation of your medication supply, their availability and cost. The hospital pharmacy can only dispense prescriptions from hospital doctors. You still need to have prescriptions from your local doctor dispensed at your local pharmacy.

Please remember to collect and take home any medications that you brought to hospital with you when you leave. Medications can be dispensed by Pharmacy to patients waiting in the Discharge lounge.

Contacting Your GP
The ward staff will explain any care you need once you go home. They will arrange for information about your treatment and condition to be sent to your local doctor and other specialists or community health workers involved in your care, unless you tell us that you do not want them to be informed. Please be sure that the hospital has the correct contact details for your doctor.

Future Check-ups
It is preferred that patients return to their own local doctor for any follow-up care.

Concerns After Discharge
If an emergency arises and you cannot immediately see your own doctor, please contact your normal after hours GP service or ring or return to the hospital and speak to a doctor in the Emergency Department (02) 6201 6208. Please remember to take with you all information and all medications you use including those received while in hospital.

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