Patient InformationPatient Rights & Responsibilities
Your Rights
As a patient/client of NHW you have the right to:
- Receive a prompt response in emergencies
- Care from appropriately qualified health professionals
- Expect a safe and secure environment
- Be treated with respect, consideration and dignity
- Confidentiality regarding all personal and medical details
- Give your informed consent to, or refuse any treatment
- Timely and understandable information about your condition
- Access to an interpreter if necessary
- Express your dissatisfaction or satisfaction with our service
- Be actively involved in your care and treatment
Your responsibilities
As a patient/client of NHW we ask that you:
- Are courteous and considerate to other patients and to treating staff
- Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate information about your current and previous medical problems, medications, visits to hospital, insurance status, allergies and other matters relating to your state of health in order to help our staff care for you
- Inform staff is consent for treatment is withheld or withdrawn
- Seek clarification if you do not understand any information or instructions given to you
- To be actively involved in your care and treatment
- Discuss any worries/concerns with a relevant member of staff
- Comply with health advice and medical instructions
- Respect hospital policies
- Pay account promptly
Privacy & Confidentiality
Any patient attending NHW for any reason has the right to privacy under the Health Services Act 1988 (as amended 2001) and the Health Records Act 2001. A brochure is available to patients and visitors to the hospital called 'What Happens to Information about Me?' outlining what is done with the date and notes collected during your admission to hospital.
You will be asked to consent to information about your stay being sent to your local doctor. If you wish to change this at any time during your stay or afterwards then please contact the Privacy Officer on (03) 5722 0281. For more information please refer to the brochure below.
 What happens to information about me? Brochure | type: pdf | size: 89 kB |
Informed Consent
If you have any operation or procedure performed, you will be required to sign a consent form. Before you sign a consent form it is important that you fully understand the procedure, treatment or operation. If you are not sure about any aspect of the procedure, please ask for another explanation before you sign the form. Proposed surgery or treatments cannot proceed unless consent is given.
Emergency Department
The primary role of the Emergency Department is to manage serious unplanned medical conditions and it is not a general practice. However, no patient will be refused treatment for any acute illness. Patients are prioritised according to the severity of their condition and unfortunately some delays are unavoidable for less urgent conditions.
What to bring to hospital with you
- Medicare Card/Community Health Care Card
- Health Insurance details
- Veterans Affairs details
- Letters from your doctor
- X-rays you have been asked to bring
- Medicines/tablets you usually take at home - a written list is very helpful
- Lists of allergies
- Contact numbers for relatives/friends
- Personal items (pyjamas/nightie, suitable footwear, dressing gown, personal hygiene items)
Please also ensure that you have organised someone to feed your pets, water the garden, collect the mail and generally check your house.
Valuables
It is policy that NHW will not be held responsible for lost valuables if they have not been placed in the hospital safe on admission. No responsibility will be taken for valuables left in your room.
Please make sure that valuables and large amounts of cash are left at home wherever possible. If you do need to bring them into hospital for any reason, items will need to be listed on your admission form. Please ensure these items are then placed in the hospital safe. On discharge from hospital all valuables will be returned to you.
Spiritual Sanctuary
The hospital's oldest and original building once used as a kitchen and day stay ward, affectionately known as the 'Rat House' has been beautifully restored and converted as the focal point of a serene Spiritual Sanctuary Precinct. The building is located in the centre of NHW's campus to create a 'Spiritual Sanctuary & Respite Area' for patients, families, visitors, volunteers and staff with a chapel, family respite room, kitchenette, pastoral care minister's office and store-room, welcoming foyer and display area, serene courtyard, gazebo, water feature and gardens. The Spiritual Sanctuary is accessible at all times.
Church Visitors
If you provide your religious details on admission, be aware that your name will appear on a list that is given to pastoral care workers. You may receive a visit from a member of the church. If you do not state your religion then your name will not appear on the list.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care visitors are available to come and sit with you, or listen to your concerns and problems. You may not have a faith or a particular denomination, but may wish to talk to someone who comes from outside the hospital environment. You can request a visit by asking nursing staff who will arrange this for you.
The hospital chapel is located in the Spiritual Sanctuary and is available at all times for anyone wanting some quiet time.