Admissions

Your Stay

The booking for your hospital stay will be made through your Doctor's rooms or via an open access referral where your GP will refer you to our centre and we will then allocate you to a specialist.

Please ensure you complete the Admission Form and return it to our centres at least 48 hours prior to admission.

In some cases, your Doctor will book you in for the next day. In these cases it is imperative that you contact us as soon as possible and speak to the Administration staff to confirm your admission and details relating to your hospital stay.

Costs and Insurance Cover

Prior to admission you will be required to complete your pre-admission paperwork and return to the centre 48 hours prior to admissions.

If you have private health insurance our team will contact your health fund to confirm your cover and any out-of-pockets that’s apply. The team will advise you if there are any out-of-pockets and these are to be paid prior to or on the day of admission.

If you are visiting our centre as an uninsured patient we will advise you of the cost for using our facility prior to admission, all funds must be paid prior to the procedure being performed.

Please note that both insured and uninsured patients may receive additional accounts for the specialist, anaesthetist and pathology.

Payment Methods

We accept cash, bank cheque, Mastercard, Visa or EFTPOS. Please note that all credit card transactions will incur a 1.5% surcharge.

Admission Confirmation

It’s important to confirm your details including the date and time of Admission, your procedure and your expectations relating to discharge and post discharge care.

Before speaking with the Administration staff, or completing the admission forms please ensure you have the following information ready as applicable to you:

• Name and contact details of your next-of-kin and a second local contact person
• Name and contact details of your General Practitioner
• Medicare card
• Department of Veterans' Affairs card
• Pension card
• Health Care card
• Safety Net or Concession card
• Private health insurance membership card
• Health history and a list of current medications

Getting Ready for Hospital

In preparation for your procedure:

• Please shower at home before coming to hospital
• Don’t apply talcum powder, deodorant, make-up, nail polish, etc.
• Please remove all body piercings
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing
• Please advise your admitting Doctor of your current medications and confirm if you should continue to take these medications prior to your Admission

Fasting

Fasting details will be advised by our Day Surgery staff or your Doctor. It’s advisable to refrain from smoking a minimum of twelve hours prior to your surgery or procedure.

Cold or illness

Please contact the hospital or your Doctor if you develop an illness prior to surgery.

What do I bring to hospital?

Please bring the following items with you to hospital, where applicable:

• All medications you are currently taking (in original packaging)
• Relevant Xrays or scans
• Medicare card
• Private health insurance membership card
• Pensioner card
• Veterans' affairs entitlement card
• Safety Net or pharmacy entitlement card
• Drivers licence or accepted identification
• WorkCover or other insurance details
• Any letters from your doctor
• Blood Group card (if available)
• Dressing gown and slippers or comfortable shoes
• Glasses and physical aids (walking sticks, hearing aids)
• A personal entertainment device or book to read

Please do not bring the following items:

• Jewellery
• Large sums of money
• Other valuables

The hospital doesn't accept responsibility for security of your possessions, including jewellery, watches and money.

Please note that mobile phones must not be used in some areas of the hospital, as their signals can interfere with electronic medical equipment.

Preparing for your Endoscopy

You will be provided with information to help you prepare for your procedure. These brochures include information on bowel preparation depending on the type of procedure, Doctor and your health status.

What to Expect

Your admission time will have been advised by the hospital’s Administration staff. It is important to arrive on time for your appointment as you may require medication prior to your operation. On arrival, please register at the front Reception. You will be directed to our waiting area where you will be collected by our friendly Nursing staff.

You may experience some delay or waiting time prior to your surgery. This delay is necessary to accommodate the clinical scheduling requirements of your treating Doctors. We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Your specialist Anaesthetist will determine if you require a general anaesthetic or sedation. This will be discussed with you either over the phone the day before or at the hospital on the day of your procedure.

Usually a sedative drug is given via a needle inserted into the back of your hand. Many patients don’t recall this, and only become aware when they are back in the recovery unit.

After your operation or procedure, you’ll be made comfortable while your condition is monitored until you’ve fully recovered. Once you have recovered, you’ll be offered a light meal prior to discharge.

For more complex procedures, the length of stay will depend on your condition after your procedure.

Patient Feedback

We value your feedback at Wollongong Day Surgery. Whether you want to pass on a compliment or provide feedback to help improve our service, we encourage you to:

• Speak with your Nurse
• Ask to speak with the Unit Manager

For more information, refer to Your Rights or the Patient Feedback page.

Discharge

Before leaving the Day Surgery, all patients are required to be formally discharged by our hospital Administration staff. Please ensure you speak to the staff at one of our Reception areas prior to leaving the hospital.

Upon discharge, you’ll be given any necessary instructions, including a prescription for any medications and details of any follow up appointments with your Doctor.

A comfortable seating area is provided in the hospital foyer while you wait for your transport to go home.

Getting Home

If you’ve had heavy sedation or a general anaesthetic, you won’t be permitted to leave the Day Surgery alone. Please note the following:

• You’ll need to arrange to be picked up and organise a responsible adult to be present with you for the first night you are home following general anaesthesia
• Staff will contact the person who is picking you up when you’re fit to go home
• Transportation home by taxi is not permitted without a responsible adult who accepts responsibility to take you home
• For your own comfort and safety, you shouldn’t take any alcoholic beverage for at least 24 hours after discharge
• After general anaesthetic, patients aren’t permitted to drive any motor vehicle, operate machinery or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours
• Special arrangements can be made to assist DVA patients to get you home safely after their hospital stay.