Calvary John James Hospital

Your Admission

Thank you for choosing Calvary, a service in the Tradition of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary.  Your doctor  will provide you with an overnight or day admission pack.  It is important that you read this information as it contains:

•  the forms you need to complete in order to provide us with the information we need to finalise your booking and let us know about any special care you may require
•  information on how to prepare for your stay
•  information about your hospital bill and how you can pay your account
•  information on how we protect your privacy
•  information on your rights and responsibilities whilst in hospital
•  general information about the hospital to assist you whilst you are with us.

Completing the Forms

Please complete the following three forms using black ball point pen.
1. Patient Registration Details
2. Patient Health Assessment
3. Privacy Consent / Rights and Responsibilities acknowledgment.
4. Maternity eAdmissions now on-line.  Click here to access.

Tear off the forms along the perforated lines and return them to the hospital at least five (5) working days before your admission.  Retain the rest of the package. How and where your forms can be delivered to is contained in the package:

If for any reason you are not able to submit the forms to us within the required time please ring the Admissions Office as soon as possible.

Pre-admission Clinic

You may be asked to attend a Pre-admission Clinic appointment. Pre-admission is an important part of your hospital care and helps us further prepare for your stay. The clinic is free of charge and is staffed by experienced Registered Nurses who will:

•   talk to you about your care before and after surgery
•   check your health history and complete other admission paperwork
•   organise blood tests, an ECG, and other tests if ordered by your doctor
•   commence discharge planning to help you plan for your return home
•   answer any questions you may have about your  hospital stay.

This means not only do you know what to expect whilst in hospital but ensures your admission on the day of your surgery is well planned, relaxed, and not rushed for you or the staff.   If you need to make an appointment please contact the clinic as soon as possible.  The phone number is also listed on your package.  Please bring your Medicare card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card, or Department of Defence ServiceProvider advice slip with you to the appointment.

Medicines

Before your admission to hospital please let your doctor know what medicines you are taking including prescription, non-prescription, and complementary medicines (including  creams, eye drops, puffers, vitamins, herbal preparations, etc). 

It is important that your Doctor and the hospital staff know  exactly what medicines you are taking as medicines can adversely react with one another and your treatment.
Your doctor can then tell you which medicines you need to stop before your surgery (if any) and when to stop taking them.   Please bring all your medicines in their original packaging into hospital with you (even if you use Webster/Blister pack).  This ensures the medicines you need are available when you need to take them.

Admission Date / Time

Admission times vary and are arranged by the Bookings Office usually 2 days prior to your surgery. We will contact you with the admission time.  If there is a change to your admission time the hospital will contact you the day prior to your admission.

Fasting Instructions

Unless your Doctor / Anaesthetist gives you special instructions do not eat or drink anything after

•  midnight (the night before) for morning surgery or
• 7.00am for afternoon surgery (a light breakfast such as tea and toast is allowable before 7.00am).

If you are having a bowel procedure please check your preparation and fasting requirements with your doctor.

What to Bring

On day of admission please bring:

• all forms, letters, and requests from your doctor

•  all prescription, non-prescription and complementary medicines you are currently taking

•  prescriptions (especially authority prescriptions)

•  printed list of current medicines from your GP or pharmacist

•  X-rays and scans (your surgery may be cancelled if x-rays or scans needed for your surgery are not available)

•  Medicare card and health fund details

•  Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card, Department of Defence Service Provider advice slip

•  Pension/Health Care card, Pharmaceutical entitlements card (if applicable)

•  letter of approval for WorkCover, Third Party or Public Liability claims (if applicable)

•  compression or TED stockings 

•  any other items eg. crutches/abdominal corsets as  instructed by your Doctor

•  reading material o toiletries

•  comfortable, loose fitting clothes or nightwear,  slippers/footwear 

Money/Jewellery/Valuables

We advise you to leave valuables such as jewellery, large amounts of cash (unless you are paying an excess or co-payment on admission) and electronic items at home as we cannot accept responsibility for them if they are lost or stolen.

Your Admission

On arrival at the hospital please check in at Main Reception.

DO NOT

• smoke for 24 hours before admission - please talk to your Doctor if you require nicotine replacement treatment during your stay in hospital

• chew gum or suck lozenges while fasting

• wear jewellery including piercings (a wedding ring is permitted)

• wear make-up or nail polish (false nails are permitted but are discouraged).

Accommodation

Both private and shared accommodation is available. Ensuites, televisions and phones are available in all private and shared rooms. Your preferred accommodation may not be immediately available, but as soon as practicable, a transfer to the requested accommodation may be arranged. If you are admitted to a Post Operative Care Unit you may be cared for in a mixed gender ward.

Discharge

The discharge time is strictly 9.30am and we ask that you make arrangements to leave the hospital at this time to allow staff to prepare the room for incoming admissions.