Preparing for your hospital visit
When you book your procedure at your surgeon’s rooms, they will arrange the date of your admission, explain your procedure and guide you through the consent form. You will then need to complete and send us your pre-admission forms at least five days before your admission date.
You can complete these forms online via the button above or fill in a paper version provided by your doctor and send us the forms by email, post or fax. If you send us your pre-admission form by fax or email, please also bring the original with you on the day of admission, as we are required to keep this in your hospital record.
Once we have this information we can register your details, confirm your place on the operating theatre list, and check your health fund status.
Please read through the information below and watch this video to properly prepare for your surgery.
We will answer any specific questions you have during your pre-operative call the day before your procedure. Here are some answers to common queries.
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Before Surgery
- Please complete your pre-admission forms at least 5 days before surgery
- You should take the time to contact your private health fund to check your level of cover
- Please make a note of your admission time and fasting instructions – we will provide you with these during your pre-admission phone call one working day before surgery
- Don’t forget to advise us of any special dietary needs
- If you are having day surgery, you will need to arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home and stay with you for 24 hours. We cannot discharge you following an anaesthetic unless you have a designated carer, so please let us know as soon as possible if you have any difficulty finding someone.
- Please contact your doctor prior to surgery if your health has deteriorated, as we may need to postpone the procedure until you’re feeling better
For 24 hours after an anaesthetic, you will not be able to:
- Drive a vehicle
- Drink alcohol
- Operate machinery
- Make important decisions
- Sign legal documents
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What to bring
- Your Medicare card, and where relevant your Health Insurance membership card, Veterans’ Affairs card and/or Pensioner Concession card
- All medications you are currently taking including supplements, in their original packaging
- Any recent and relevant X-rays, scans, test results and medical paperwork (such as forms and doctor admission letter)
- Any personal aids you need (glasses, walking aids)
- Any Advanced care plan and/or treatment-limiting orders
- If you are staying overnight, please bring night attire, toiletries and slippers
- Your credit card (Amex, Visa & Mastercard), debit card or bank cheque to settle your account. Please note we do not accept personal cheques or cash.
- Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship and Advanced Care Directive documentation (if applicable)
You will also need to wear loose comfortable clothing
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What not to bring
- Please leave all valuables at home (including jewellery and large sums of cash)
- Do not wear make-up, nail polish, high heels or jewellery and please remove all facial and mouth piercings
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Childrens surgery
It’s natural to feel anxious if your child is undergoing surgery, and we will do everything we can to make your family comfortable and relaxed. It’s a good idea to bring:
- Their pyjamas
- A favourite toy, story book or activity
- A change of clothes and underwear
We will invite one parent or carer into the recovery room to be with your child after surgery. Only you know who the right person is, so please consider this carefully.
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Fasting
Before you undergo an anaesthetic, you will need to avoid eating or drinking anything for a specific period of time beforehand as this will protect your airway and lungs while you are asleep. During your pre-admission phone call, we will let you know when this fasting period should begin. For your own safety, you must strictly follow the fasting instructions.
You can have a very small amount of water in the morning with medication, but do not chew gum, eat lollies or have any milk-based drinks.
We will give you a snack and fluids when you are in the recovery room after your surgery.
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Medications
Please check with your doctor, anaesthetist or GP whether you should take your prescribed medications on the morning of your procedure. You can take them with a sip of water if fasting. If you take medication for diabetes or anticoagulant therapy, your anaesthetist will contact you prior to your procedure to discuss your medication management.
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Smoking
Please be advised that Bondi Junction Private Hospital is a smoke free environment. We recommend that you do not smoke on the day of your procedure.
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Getting here and parking
There is time-limited paid parking available on the street. All day parking is available at the Waverly Library Car Park.
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Admission
When you arrive, please report to the reception desk where our staff will guide you through the admission process. We will confirm your name, date of birth, admitting details and doctor. These standard identification procedures will be repeated throughout the day to ensure your safety.
As a specialist boutique hospital, we make every effort to ensure you will not be kept waiting before your procedure, but there are times when other patients require longer periods in theatre than we anticipate.
We’ll let you and your carer know if there are any delays and how your expected discharge time might be affected. It’s a good idea to bring a book or something to keep you occupied just in case.
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Billing & health insurance
Bondi Junction Private Hospital has contracts with most health funds. If you have private health insurance, we will check your level of cover and email you an estimate of additional expenses you will need to pay.
Once you have booked your procedure you will be provided with an informed financial consent form. This document is provided to you as an estimation of fees according to your hospital booking including any ‘out of pocket’ charges and your health fund excess.
If you are having elective cosmetic surgery, your surgeon will advise you on all fees.
It’s a good idea to contact your private health fund to check any exclusions or restrictions on specific treatments. They can answer any questions, and may be able to upgrade your policy if needed.
Before you are admitted, any outstanding amount not covered by your health fund (co-payment or excess) will need to be paid. We can take pre-payment by credit card over the phone during your pre-operative call if you prefer. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, EFTPOS, and bank cheques. Please note we do not accept cash.
If you do not have private health insurance, you will be required to pay the full amount for your day surgery admission.
Please note you will also receive a separate account from the surgeon and anaesthetist involved in your treatment which covers the cost of their services.
Third party claims
If you are a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) patient, we will lodge a claim with the DVA for you. If your surgery is part of a WorkCover or Third Party (TAC) claim, you will need to make the full payment (apart from ancillary charges) on admission – unless we have received written approval for admission from WorkCover or TAC.
Questions to ask your private health insurer
Before you have surgery, we recommend you contact your private health insurer and check whether you are covered for surgery. We have provided a guide to the questions you should ask.
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After your surgery
Following your procedure, you will be brought into the recovery unit where we will give you some fluids and a light snack.
Day surgery
If you are discharged on the same day as your surgery, you must have a responsible adult to collect you from Bondi Junction Private Hospital, and stay with you for 24 hours. We will let your carer know your approximate discharge time when you are admitted, and then call them 30 minutes before you are ready to be picked up.
We will also give them your post-operative care instructions. It is important you follow these to ensure the best outcome from your procedure. Your anaesthetist will give you a prescription for any pain relief and/or antibiotics required after surgery. These may be required soon after being discharged, so it’s a good idea to pick up this medication from a nearby pharmacy on the way home.
One of our nurses will call you a few days after your surgery to check how you are recovering. You will also have a post-operative appointment with your surgeon.
Short-stay surgery
If you are staying with us overnight, we will make you comfortable in one of our private patient rooms once you have recovered from the anaesthetic.
You can have visitors between 8am and 8pm, but we do suggest you keep visits to a minimum so you can rest. If you have special needs and require a carer to stay with you, or would like your infant to stay with you, please discuss this with us before admission.
Discharge time is 9am. You are welcome to wait in our patient lounge after this time if you are waiting to be picked up.
Preventing falls
After your procedure and anaesthetic you may be at risk of falling or tripping. Take care when moving around and we encourage you to rest and let your carer assist you for the remainder of the day.
Nausea
This is less common with modern anaesthetics. If it does occur, it should only be temporary. If nausea persists, avoid food but maintain fluids. If it does not resolve within 24 hours, it is important that you contact your doctor.
Sore throat
This may occur due to your anaesthetist assisting with your breathing. It usually disappears within 24 hours. Simple pain relief may help relieve this.
Tender arm or hand at injection site
This may occur due to irritation of the vein or slight bruising from the needle or the drugs injected, and can persist for several days. If your arm or hand look red or inflamed consult your doctor and notify Bondi Junction Private Hospital.
Infection
Please notify the Director of Nursing at Bondi Junction Private Hospital should any redness, swelling, pain or discharge be noticed from your wound – or if you visit a doctor and are prescribed antibiotics for an associated infection within 30 days of your procedure.
Hand hygiene
We advise patients and carers to wash hands prior to attending wound care or administering eye drops (as per doctor’s instructions).
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Privacy
As a patient of Bondi Junction Private Hospital your privacy and dignity will be maintained at all times. We hold medical records relating to your treatment, and the content of these records will only be divulged with your consent or where permitted or authorised by law.
We will handle your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (including the Australian Privacy Principles under that Act) and other applicable laws. For more information, read our Patient Information & Pre-Admission Booklet, and download tthe Australian Privacy Principles fact sheet.
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Quality & Safety
Bondi Junction Private Hospital strictly follows all statutory and relevant body guidelines and Australian Standards. We work hard to provide both a supportive environment and the highest level of care for our patients and staff.
We work together under the management of our Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) and General Manager/Director of Nursing.
Patient feedback and quality of care
We never stop caring about patient care. That’s why we continually monitor and assess everything we do, so we can improve the quality of care we provide. Patient feedback plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of care provided at Bondi Junction Private Hospital. By actively listening to our patients, we gain valuable insights into their experiences, allowing us to make informed decisions about how to improve our services. Our quality outcomes are reviewed by our MAC before being made available for consumer feedback.
We encourage patients to confidentially share their thoughts through a post-operative survey sent via email, while guests and visitors can easily provide feedback through our website. This continuous process of collecting and reviewing feedback ensures that we remain responsive to the needs and expectations of our patients, aligning with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
One of the key metrics we use to gauge patient satisfaction is the Net Promoter Score (NPS). The NPS is a simple way to measure how happy our patients are with the care they receive. At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, patients are asked: “How likely are you to recommend our hospital to friends and family if they need similar care or treatment?”
Patients answer this on a scale from 0 to 10, with:
- 10 being ‘extremely likely’ and
- 0 being ‘not likely at all’
Scores of:
- 9 or 10 are considered ‘promoters’ (very happy patients)
- 7 or 8 are ‘passives’ (neutral), and
- anything below 7 is a ‘detractor’ (unhappy patient)
The NPS is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. According to global NPS standards, an NPS score above 70 is considered very high and shows the service is world-class. From October to December 2024, Bondi Junction Private Hospital achieved a Net Promoter Score of 90.
Some of the more detailed results from patient feedback during this period revealed:
- 98% of surveyed patients expressed satisfaction with the quality of care received
- 96% praised our staff’s communication
- 99% felt safe whilst in our care
These results highlight the effectiveness of our efforts and provide us with a clear direction for further enhancing our services.
Workforce checks
To make sure we offer the highest possible standard of comfort and care, our specialist clinical staff have their credentials and abilities assessed annually.
Clinical handover
To make sure nothing is missed, our systems ensure seamless continuity in the event your care is transferred from one person to another. This includes discharge instructions to patients and/or carers.
Infection prevention & control
Bondi Junction Private Hospital follows strict infection control procedures. Our staff take every precaution to prevent infections and our antibiotic usage is monitored against best practice. As most patients are discharged the same day, we try to get feedback from your specialist or GP if any infections occur. We encourage you to contact us directly if you have any concerns regarding this.
Bondi Junction Private Hospital employs a variety of strategies to prevent infections. These include:
- auditing how often and how well staff wash their hands using soap and water or hand sanitiser
- using gloves and specialised sterile equipment
- using specialised disinfectants when cleaning facilities
- following national guidelines for high-level disinfection and sterilisation processes
- placing hand sanitiser dispensers in public areas throughout our hospital so that they are readily accessible to staff, patients and visitors.
What can you do to help prevent infection?
At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, patients and visitors are part of the healthcare team. There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of infection for yourself and others:
- Wash your hands carefully with soap and water or use hand sanitiser upon entering and leaving the hospital. This is the most important way you can prevent the spread of infection.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands afterwards – every time!
- If you do not have a tissue available, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not into your hand.
- As a patient, report any infection you have had, especially if you are still on antibiotics.
- Make sure you take the full course of antibiotics you have been given, even if you are feeling better.
- If you have a dressing for a wound, keep the skin around the dressing clean and dry. Let the healthcare worker looking after you know promptly if it becomes loose or wet.
- Tell your healthcare worker if the area around any drips, tubes or drains inserted into your body becomes red, swollen or painful.
- Let the healthcare worker looking after you know if the equipment has not been cleaned properly.
- Stop smoking before any surgery or procedure, as smoking increases the risk of infection.
Infection Prevention Results from October to December 2024
During the period from October to December 2024, Bondi Junction Private Hospital provided care to 672 patients. Through the diligent efforts of our doctors, staff, patients and visitors, we are proud to report zero post-surgical infections during this time.
Hand hygiene
Bondi Junction Private Hospital is committed to the Hand Hygiene Australia program. We conduct regular audits to ensure compliance throughout our facility. At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, we use auditors who are accredited by Hand Hygiene Australia to record whether hand hygiene has been performed correctly at our hospital. Our hand hygiene compliance rate was 80.6% for the last reporting period.
Hand Hygiene is another name for hand washing or cleaning. Good hand hygiene is an important part of infection control. Germs can survive on unwashed hands for over an hour, and we can unknowingly transmit bacteria and viruses to others.
All our staff are required to frequently wash their hands with soap and water or with waterless hand sanitiser. Both are equally effective. We follow the World Health Organisation’s guidelines for hand hygiene, which specify the following times when healthcare staff must wash their hands:
- before touching a patient
- after touching a patient
- before a procedure
- after a procedure
- after touching a patient’s belongings or surroundings
At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, we use auditors who are accredited by Hand Hygiene Australia to record whether hand hygiene has been performed correctly at our hospital.
Learn more about this program here.
Falls within the hospital
Patient falls are a leading cause of hospital-acquired injury and often prolong or complicate hospital stays. Patients may experience a fall because they are weakened by a medical condition or after an accident or surgery.
At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, we are committed to providing a safe environment for all patients. Between October and December 2024, we cared for 672 patients, and we are proud to report that there were zero patient falls during this period—a reflection of the robust and proactive measures we have in place that support patient safety.
Pressure injuries
Commonly known as bed sores, pressure injuries are areas of skin damage caused by prolonged pressure. They can range in severity from an area of reddened skin to ulcers with underlying tissue damage.
Pressure injuries can sometimes occur when a patient remains in one position for a long period. Certain people are at increased risk of developing pressure injuries, such as the elderly, people who are bed-bound or have poor mobility, and people with chronic conditions like diabetes. These are most common on hips, tail bones, heels or other bony areas of the body.
We have a range of approaches to treat and prevent pressure injuries, and our target is always to have zero pressure injuries.
Unexpected Returns to Theatre
An unexpected return to the operating theatre is a serious event that may occur if complications arise after surgery. This can happen for various reasons, including infections, bleeding, or other unforeseen issues. At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, we have processes in place to mitigate this risk and deliver a high standard of care. From October to December 2024, we cared for many patients, Two of whom returned to theatre unexpectedly for further surgery. Importantly, none of these unexpected returns to theatre resulted in harm. Our hospital remains dedicated to reviewing and improving our strategies to minimise returns to theatre.
Medication Safety
Safe medication management is important to us at Bondi Junction Private Hospital. There are many systems in use throughout the hospital to support and promote safety in supplying and administering medications and monitoring their effects.
Staff at Bondi Junction Private Hospital follow strict guidelines to ensure that all medications are administered appropriately and accurately. We adhere to the 7 Rights of Medication Administration:
- The Right Person
- The Right Documentation and Clinical Context
- The Right Drug
- The Right Dose
- The Right Date/Time
- The Right Route
- The Right to Uninterrupted Medication Administration
We can confirm there was one medication error at our hospital for the last reporting period. Our hospital will continue to review and improve the current strategies we have in place for medication safety.
Consumer Involvement
We want to hear from you!
With patients like you at the centre of our care model, we welcome your participation in reviewing our Quality & Safety reports. Please provide feedback on how we can continue to improve.
Contact our General Manager/Director of Nursing at don@bjph.com.au
Open Disclosure
At Bondi Junction Private Hospital, we are dedicated to ensuring transparency and trust through our Open Disclosure process. Open Disclosure involves clear and honest communication about any incidents that might cause concern during your treatment. It’s important to know that most issues in healthcare that don’t go as planned are minor and are often identified and addressed before they impact you.
In cases where something small doesn’t go to plan, your doctor or nurse will inform you about what happened and how it was managed, just as they would discuss other aspects of your care. If a more serious incident occurs, we will inform you as soon as possible and arrange an Open Disclosure meeting to thoroughly discuss the situation. This process includes explaining what went wrong, why it happened, expressing our regret, and providing the necessary support.
Our goal is to keep you fully informed and supported, addressing any concerns and working with you to improve our services. If you believe a serious incident has occurred that has not been acknowledged, please speak with your doctor, nurse or other healthcare staff, as we value your feedback in enhancing our care.
Please click on the buttons below for additional information.
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Complaints, concerns and feedback
Please complete the Patient Satisfaction Survey, which your nurse will give you after your procedure. We appreciate your honest feedback, as we are always looking for ways to improve our patients’ experience.
If there is any aspect of your care that you are not happy with, please contact the Director of Nursing (Complaints Officer) at don@bjph.com.au. We will promptly acknowledge and investigate any complaint, and communicate the outcome and any recommendations with you.
If your complaint is unresolved, you can contact:
Health Care Complaints Commission
Locked Mail Bag 18,
Strawberry Hills,
NSW 2012Phone: 02 9219 7444
Frequently asked questions
We will answer any specific questions you have during your pre-operative call the day before your procedure. Here are some answers to common queries.
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Do I need to arrive before my admission time to complete any paperwork?
No – we allow for this when we calculate the time you need to arrive. If your admission time is 9am, please arrive at 9am.
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How long will I be in hospital for?
This depends on your procedure, and for day surgery is generally 2 to 3 hours from the time of your admission. We will let you know what to expect the day before your procedure.
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Is there parking at Bondi Junction Private Hospital?
Paid and timed parking is available on the street, or at the Waverley Library Car Park located one block away on Ebley Street. Parking at Waverley Library is free for the first 1.5 hours, and all day paid parking is available.
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Why do I have to fast?
It’s important not to eat or drink anything for a specified period of time before an anaesthetic for safety reasons, as this will protect your airway and lungs while you are asleep.
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Why do I need a responsible adult to collect me?
Because you are having an anaesthetic for your procedure, you need someone with you after you are discharged to make sure there are no unexpected complications from your procedure or anaesthetic. You are also not legally allowed to drive for 24 hours following an anaesthetic.
Our nursing staff will meet with your designated carer before we send you home, and go through written instructions for your wellbeing when you go home. This includes advice about eating and drinking, pain relief, and when you can resume normal activities.
If you do not have a designated carer to collect you, we may have to cancel your surgery. Please let us know if you have any concerns about this policy, and contact the hospital as soon as possible if you are having any difficulty finding a carer.
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Why do I have to remove my jewellery and nail polish before surgery?
This is for your own safety. There is a risk of surgical burns with metal jewellery, including piercings. If you wish to leave your wedding ring on, we will tape it.
During surgery, your oxygen levels will be monitored with a probe placed on your finger and nail polish and acrylic nails can interfere with this.
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Why do I have to pay an excess, I have already paid the account to the doctor?
The account you paid to your doctor was for their services only, and is separate to your hospital fees. The excess you are required to pay to the hospital is the amount you elected to pay to reduce your Health Insurance premium costs. We’ve checked this with your health fund.
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Will I have something to eat after my procedure, as I had to fast before it?
Yes, the nurses will provide you with a light snack and a cup of tea, coffee or juice while you are in second stage recovery. Please let us know about any food allergies or intolerances during your admission process.
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Will you call my relative or carer to collect me after my procedure?
Of course. The nurses will call your carer 30 mins before your discharge.
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I am coming back in a month for another procedure. Do I have to fill out another Admission Form?
If your next procedure is within three months of this one, we can re-use your existing admissions form. However, we will ask you to double-check that the information provided is still current.