Insight Private Hospital

Preparing for your hospital visit

• Before your surgery

  On the business day before your admission Insight Private Hospital will call you and provide you with your admission details, including  fasting instructions, admission time, and what to bring with you on the day. This is your opportunity to ask questions about your procedure, and discuss any concerns you may have.

  What you need to do:

  • Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery
  • Commence fasting at the time advised. Your doctor, or the staff at Insight Private Hospital, will advise you of this. When the fasting period begins, you must not chew, eat or drink anything. If you have any questions about how you should take your regular medications, please contact your referring doctor.
  • 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

  We cannot discharge you following an anaesthetic unless you have a designated carer. Please let us know if you have any concerns about this policy.

  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 Patient Admission
• What to bring
  • Please bring your Medicare card, Health Insurance membership card, Veterans’ Affairs card or Pensioner Concession card where relevant
  • Wear loose comfortable clothing
  • Any recent and relevant X-rays, scans and test results
  • Advanced care plan and/or treatment-limiting orders
  • Power of Attorney documentation (if applicable)
  • If you are taking regular medications we require an up to date print out of your Health Summary including your medications from your family doctor (GP)
  • All current medications in the original packaging
  • Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship and Advance Care Directive documentation (if applicable)
• What not to bring
  • Leave valuables at home
  • Do not wear make-up, nail polish or jewellery
  • Please remove all piercings including earrings
• Children’s 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

  Insight Private Hospital also has a DVD player and some G-rated movies.

  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.

  For overnight stays, Insight will provide you with a bed and breakfast. Please ensure you fill out the Menu on arrival. Please also note that at 7pm each night, the hospital is locked and you will be unable to leave until 7am the following morning.

  For more information on staying overnight with your child, please download Parent Information Sheet.

  Parent info sheet
• 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.

  You can have a very small amount of clear fluids (such as water) until two hours before surgery, but do not chew gum, eat lollies or have any milk-based drinks. You may also have our DEX drink (provided by Insight), which is a complex carbohydrate fluid specially formulated by anaesthetists to optimise recovery, and can be consumed up until 2 hours before your procedure.

  We will give you a light refreshment and fluids when you are in the recovery room after your surgery.

• Medications

  Check with your doctor or anaesthetist 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 regular medications for diabetes or anti coagulant therapy,  your anaesthetist or surgeon will discuss the management of this medication prior to your admission.

  Please bring all current medications in their original packaging provided by your pharmacy.

• Smoking

  Please be advised that Insight Private Hospital is a smoke free environment, including the car park and surrounds. We recommend that you do not smoke on the day of your procedure.

  Information on the importance of stopping smoking prior to surgery is available via the button below.

  Stop before your op
• Getting here and parking

  There is parking available on the premises, limited to 2 hours between 7am and 5:30pm.

• 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.

  A nurse will consult with you privately to check your blood pressure, and go through your health questionnaire. You’ll then be introduced to your anaesthetist, and may be asked to change into a hospital gown.

  Our staff make every effort to ensure you are not 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 whether your expected discharge time will be affected. It’s a good idea to bring a book or something to keep you occupied just in case.

  Remember: you’ll need to pay any out of pocket expenses at the time of your admission.

• Billing and private health insurance

  Insight Private Hospital has contracts with most health funds. Please contact your health fund to check you are covered for your procedure and whether you will need to pay an excess or co-payment before admission. It’s a good idea to check any exclusions or restrictions on specific treatments. Your fund 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,  EFTPOS, and bank cheques.

  If you do not have private health insurance, you will be required to pay the full amount.

  Please note you may also receive a separate account from the specialists involved in your treatment, such as the surgeon and anaesthetist.

  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.

  Are you covered?
• After your surgery

  You must have a responsible adult to collect you from Insight Private Hospital and stay with you for 24 hours. We will let your carer know your approximate discharge time and give them your discharge instructions.

  It is important that 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 pick this medication up on your way home.

  One of our nurses may call you a few days after your surgery to check how you are recovering. You should also ensure you have a post-operative appointment with your surgeon.

  Overnight bays are available if you need to stay in hospital overnight (less than 23 hours) for post-operative observation and pain relief. This bay consists of a bed, cabinet, privacy curtain, shared bathroom and eastern views through a large window. The patient lounge and Nurses Station are within close proximity.

  We also have short stay suites available for patients booked in for 1 to 4 days.

  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 Insight Private Hospital.

  Infection

  Please notify the Director of Nursing at Insight 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).

• Privacy

  As a patient of Insight 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
• Quality & Safety

  Insight Private Hospital adheres to all statutory and relevant body guidelines and Australian Standards. 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 Nursing, 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 annually, 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 – Insight 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 Insight Private Hospital Governing Body (Board of Directors), Staff and Accredited Medical Practitioners (AMPs) support the practice and principles of Open Disclosure.

  Insight 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
• Our commitment to child safety

  We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, and this is entrenched in the way we train our staff and volunteers.

  We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children.

  We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously, and consistent with our robust child safety policies and procedures.

  We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.

  Our organisation is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks.

  Our organisation has robust human resources and recruitment practices for all staff and volunteers.

  Our organisations are committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.

  We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers.

  We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

  We have specific policies, procedures and training in place that support our leadership team, staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.

  If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.

  Please contact our General Manager / Director of Nursing via the button below if you wish to view the full policy.

  Contact us
• 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. 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