Being admitted to hospital
Patients are usually admitted to hospital either as an emergency or as a booked admission.
Emergency admission patients are admitted through the Emergency Department. These are seriously injured or ill patients who need immediate treatment.
Most patients come into hospital as a booked admission. You will either be a day patient or an inpatient.
Going into hospital can be stressful and daunting. It helps to be prepared. Before your admission. Check that you know how to get to the hospital and decide on your travel plans (check times of public transport, enquire where to park if needed, check where in the hospital you need to go). Make sure you tell family and friends you are going into hospital. Make any plans for pets, cancelling newspapers, collecting mail etc while you are in hospital. Gather together any test results, medical scans or reports you need to take with you. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the hospital on the day so you are not rushed and if you require medication around the time of your admission, please bring it with you.
You should bring your admission letter from the hospital and any forms the hospital sent you to complete for admission, any letters from your doctor, X-rays, scans or copies of any recent tests, current medication, including any “natural” remedies you may use, Medicare card, Pensioner/veterans' Affairs card, Details of workers' compensation or third party claims, name and contact number for next of kin,a book or magazine, if desired, eye glasses, hearing aid, special toy, dummy or bottle for children if they have one. Plus for patients staying overnight or for a few days, bring nightclothes, and dressing gown if desired, non-slip slippers/footwear, underwear and toiletries (toothbrush & paste, hair brush, comb, soap etc).