Charlestown Private Hospital Hunter Eye Hospital

Preparing for your hospital visit

• Patient admission forms and information booklet

  If you have any questions about your admission, please contact our hospital staff on 02 4943 1003, who can answer any questions you may have about your hospital visit.

  • Please return your admission forms at least 7 days prior to your admission. This gives us time to prepare for your hospital visit. If you have not received a copy of this form, you can complete it online by clicking on the button below
  • A copy of our Patient Information booklet can be also be downloaded below.

  Admission form Patient Information Guide
• Before your surgery
  • 1 to 2 days before admission, you will receive a phone call from our nursing staff to confirm your admission time, fasting instructions and review your medical history
  • Due to your anaesthetic, we are unable to discharge you without a responsible adult carer. Please arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery. If you are unable to find someone to do this, please contact the hospital as soon as possible
  • 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

  Online admission form Admission form PDF
• Preparation at home
  • Shower or bathe at home. You may wear deodorant but do not use talcum powder, face creams, makeup, perfume, aftershave or nail polish
  • You may wear a wedding ring but leave all other jewellery at home
  • All facial and mouth piercings must be removed
  • Continue taking all your normal medications unless your doctor or the hospital nurse has instructed you otherwise
• What to bring
  • Medicare card, Private Health Insurance membership card, Veterans’ Affairs card, Pensioner Concession card
  • List of medications you are currently taking – if you are diabetic, please bring your medications with you
  • Any recent and relevant X-rays, scans and test results to do with your procedure
  • Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship and Advance Care Directive documentation (if applicable)

  You will also need to make sure you wear loose comfortable clothing.

• 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. We will let you know during your pre-admission phone call when your fasting period will begin. Please follow your given fasting instructions carefully to avoid having your procedure cancelled. Do not chew gum or eat lollies while fasting.

  We will give you a sandwich or snack and something to drink when you are in the recovery room after your surgery.

• Medications

  Check with your doctor, anaesthetist or GP whether you should take your prescribed medications on the morning of your procedure. During your pre-admission phone call, the nurse will discuss  your medications with you and instruct you on what you will need to do. It is a good idea to write these instructions down.

• Smoking

  Do not smoke on the day of your procedure.

• Getting here and parking

  You will need a responsible adult to take you home from the hospital on the day of your procedure.

  Please park in the public car park off Tallara Street and enter via the back of the building through the gate and into the basement car park. Follow signs to the lift and head to reception on Level 3.

  You can access patient drop off, pick up and disabled entry via the driveway on Pacific Highway, just past the Hoyts sign.

• Admission

  When you arrive, please report to the reception desk where our staff will take 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.

  Every effort will be made to ensure you aren’t kept waiting before your procedure, but there are times when other patients require longer periods in theatre than we anticipate.

  We will 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. Please leave electronic devices with your carer as we have a strict no mobile phone policy in clinical areas.

• Billing and private health insurance

  Charlestown Private Hospital and Hunter Eye Hospital have arrangements in place with all health funds. If you are a member of a health fund, we will check your eligibility for cover and advise you about any excess payable. If you are covered by a health fund, you will be asked to sign a health fund claim form and will be required to pay any excesses or co-payments on admission.

  If you are having elective or self-funded (uninsured) surgery, your surgeon will provide information about the fees payable.

  Once you have booked your procedure, you will be provided with an informed financial consent. This document is provided to you as an estimation of fees according to your hospital booking including any hospital ‘out of pocket charges’ and your health fund excess.

  Unless specified, the estimate refers only to fees charged by the hospital and you will be required to pay all ‘out of pocket’ fees before admission.

  Charlestown Private Hospital and Hunter Eye Hospital accept EFTPOS and credit card payments (VISA & Mastercard only). Cash and bank cheques are not accepted.

  Please note: you may also receive a separate account from the doctors involved in your treatment (surgeon, anaesthetist and surgical assistant).

  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,  your surgeon will seek approval prior to your surgery date and a copy of this approval letter will be provided to the hospital.

  If you have any questions about your informed financial consent, please contact our staff on (02) 4943 1003

  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.

  Am I covered?
• After your surgery

  You must have a responsible adult collect you from the hospital and stay with you for 24 hours. Carers need to be contactable via phone, otherwise they will need to stay in the Level 2 waiting area to prevent delays in post-op pick up.

  We will let your carer know your approximate discharge time, and give them your post-operative instructions to take home with you. Please ensure you and your carer read these instructions as they contain important information on what to do if you require assistance.

  It is important you follow these instructions 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 please pick this medication up on your way home.

  One of our nurses will call you the next working day after your surgery to check how you are recovering. You should also ensure you have a post-operative appointment with your surgeon.

  If you require urgent medical attention, please call an ambulance on TRIPLE ZERO.

   

  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 looks red or inflamed consult your doctor as soon as possible. If this occurs on a weekend or Public Holiday, please contact the Charlestown Private Hospital after hours mobile number which is on your post operative discharge information (0498236256) and the call centre will contact your doctor

  Infection

  If you notice any redness, swelling, pain or discharge from your wound, please notify your doctor.

  If this occurs on a weekend or Public Holiday, please contact the Charlestown Private Hospital after hours mobile number (0498 236 256), and we’ll help you get in touch with your doctor

  Hand hygiene

  We advise patients and carers to wash hands prior to attending wound care or administering eye drops (as per doctor’s instructions).

• Privacy

  As a patient of Charlestown 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 Nexus Privacy Policyand 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 the Australian Privacy Principles fact sheet.

  Privacy Policy Australian Privacy Principles Fact Sheet
• Quality & Safety

  Charlestown Private Hospital adheres to all statutory and relevant body guidelines and Australian Standards, and our management systems aim to provide the highest level of care to our patients in a safe and supportive environment.

  We work as a team under the management of the Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) and Director of Clinical Services, with the following programs in place:

  Quality Management – We continually monitor, assess and improve the quality of patient care. The MAC conducts peer-reviewed activities and we publish information about clinical performance, health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

  Risk Management – We proactively work to mitigate risks to provide the safest possible environment for patients, visitors and staff.

  Workforce checks – Our dedicated specialist clinical staff have their credentials checked, and are assessed to ensure they can perform their roles so that you receive the highest standard of care and comfort.

  Clinical handover – If your care is transferred from one person to another, our systems ensure there is effective continuity. This includes your involvement in your discharge instructions as a patient or carer.

  Infection control – We aim to prevent and limit the spread of infection through evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

  Hand Hygiene – Charlestown Private Hospital is committed to the Hand Hygiene Australia program and conducts regular audits to ensure compliance. You can find more information on this program here.

  Consumer involvement – Patients are at the centre of our care model, and we welcome your participation in reviewing our Quality & Safety reports, and feedback on how we can continue to improve.

  Open Disclosure – The Charlestown Private Hospital Governing Body (Board of Directors), Staff and Accredited Medical Practitioners (AMPs) support the practice and principles of Open Disclosure.

  Charlestown Private Hospital has a clear and consistent approach to open communication and disclosure with consumers and their carers,  with a view to fairness, transparency and  accountability.

  Please click on the button below for more information on Open Disclosure.

  Nexus Quality and Safety Policy Open Disclosure fact sheet
• Complaints, concerns and feedback

  Please complete the Patient Satisfaction Survey, which your nurse will give you after your procedure, or can be accessed here.

  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 General Manager at m.boshier@charlestownprivate.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 2012

  Phone: 02 9219 7444

  Feedback form