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Calvary Wakefield Hospital
Your Stay

Before your admission

Your booking will be made through your doctor's surgery. For a smooth admission process, we ask that you attend to the following matters prior to your admission:

Pre admission information
Your doctor will give you a Patient Admission Pack containing all the necessary paper work for your hospitalisation. Please complete these forms at your earliest convenience and return to the hospital by mail in the prepaid envelope to arrive at least five working days prior to your admission. If you are unable to do so, please telephone our Pre Admission Clerk with your details on (08) 8405 3334 from 8.30am to 4.30pm. This contact you have with the Pre Admissions Office will confirm your details including date of admission, your procedure and your expectations relating to discharge and post discharge care.

Pre admission clinic
Calvary Wakefield Hospital offers a complimentary pre-admission service to assist patients in preparing for elective surgery should you wish to participate. You will be able to discuss your admission, recovery and discharge with an experienced registered nurse in a relaxed setting at the hospital or on the telephone, prior to admission to hospital. We work closely with the surgeons to ensure a partnership in your admission and care at the hospital.

The pre-admission assessment includes:

A review of your admission forms and discussion of financial details
A comprehensive nursing assessment
Blood tests, X-Rays, Scans, ECG's as requested by your surgeon
An outline of your care before and after surgery to give you some understanding of what to expect
Education regarding pain relief, wound care, physiotherapy, mobilisation and other aspects of your surgery so you are able to make informed decisions regarding your care plan.
Discharge and aftercare arrangements

Pre-admission clinic appointments can be made during office hours Monday to Friday from 10am - 3pm on 1300 850 966 through our Pre-Admission Officer. We would encourage your attendance at this clinic.

Private health insurance
Please contact your Private Health Fund to confirm your level of cover and whether you have an excess or co -payment on your policy. In the event that you do have an excess or co-payment, this amount is payable prior to your admission date.

What to bring

Letters from your doctor
Medicare Card
Health Fund membership book or card
Department of Veterans Affairs card, any Pension Entitlement card, any Pharmaceutical Entitlement card
Relevant existing X-rays and CT scans
All medications you are currently taking (including tablets, vitamins, mixtures, creams, inhalers or drops). If possible, please bring a list from your General Practitioner of your current medications, their strengths and dosages.
Sleepwear, dressing gown for overnight stay and slippers or comfortable shoes
Glasses, hearing aids and non-electronic walking aids
Toiletries, including soap, toothpaste and toothbrush
Personal Belongings: It is strongly recommended that you do not wear jewellery or bring valuables into the Hospital. The Hospital does not accept responsibility for loss or damage. All electrical items such as radios, computers, hair dryer must be tested by Hospital Maintenance Staff to ensure compatibility with the electrical supply prior to use.
Mobile phones may be used in the hospital. Please consider the needs of other patients when using your mobile phone.

When you arrive

Please register at the reception on the ground floor of the hospital. You will then be escorted to your room.

Type of accommodation
Calvary Wakefield Hospital offers a high standard of accommodation with both shared and private rooms. Most rooms have en-suite facilities. Accommodation is shared in the Day Surgery Unit.

Depending on your reason for hospitalisation you may find yourself nursed for a time in our Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit or High Dependency area where you can be more closely monitored and observed by nursing staff.

Bed Allocations are done on the day of admission, whilst every effort is made to provide the room type you have requested, this may not always be possible. Should your preferred accommodation become available you will be transferred if you wish.

Please note: Private Room Surcharge applies for Veteran Affairs, Work Cover and Third Party Patients.

Staying with children in hospital
We encourage a parent to spend as much time as possible with their child during the child's hospitalisation. A parent may stay overnight with their child if they wish. Please note that in these circumstances a Boarder Fee will be charged per night plus a meal charge.

For your comfort & convenience

Call button
Should you require assistance, please do not hesitate to call the nursing staff via the nurse call button located in the bedside handset. Our staff will endeavor to answer the call as quickly as possible.

Flowers & mail
Flowers and mail are delivered directly to your room. If you have mail to post please contact the Reception staff and this will be arranged for you. Please note that flowers will not be delivered to the Intensive Care Unit.

Meals
Our Catering Department prepares a variety of top quality, fresh meals. Menus will be provided the day before from which you may select meals according to your taste and dietary requirements. The Diet Liaison Officer can assist should you have any special dietary needs.

Pastoral care
Calvary Wakefield Hospital provides a ministry of human support, comfort, guidance and prayer to all patients regardless of religious belief.

The service is provided by skilled professionals, comprising of accredited chaplains and trained special ministers of the Eucharist. At Calvary Wakefield we recognize that needs vary from patient to patient. The Pastoral staff visit the wards regularly and are available to spend time with patients, relatives, friends and staff. Representatives from most faith traditions visit regularly and may be contacted through the Pastoral Care Staff. The Pastoral Care Department offers gentle, caring, holistic spirituality integrating the body, mind and spirit.

Smoking
Smoking is not permitted within the Hospital.

Telephones
You can make and receive free local calls from the telephone by your bed. A Telstra phone card may be purchased from the reception area for STD, International and calls to mobiles. Alternatively, public telephones are located in the Hospital for your convenience.

Television
A single handset by your bed allows you to select any of the local television stations. An in-house movie channel and two radio stations are also available.

Going home

We recommend that before admission you consider how you will manage at home after discharge. Will you require someone to stay with you after being discharged? How will you prepare food, do the housekeeping and shopping? Will you need any special aids?

If you would like to discuss your discharge needs prior to admission, contact the Pre Admission nurse who will be able to assist you.

Your doctor and the nursing staff will inform you of length time he or she thinks you will stay in hospital. Our Case Manager will talk to you about any special services or equipment you may need after you are discharged.

Discharge time is at 10.00 am.
It is recommended that you arrange a relative or friend to assist you in getting home, or alternatively a taxi will be called for you by Reception staff. Strict adherence to discharge times is appreciated. Delay in discharge causes delays for those patients requiring admission.

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