Elective Admissions
All patients who have a planned admission to hospital complete a request for admission form after seeing their doctor. This is then assessed by the theatre liaison nurse who can organise appropriate care pre-operatively, depending on the need of each individual patient. On admission, the clerks in the admissions office confirm that the information they already have about you is correct as well as gathering any additional information that is required. The admitting nurse will ask you about your medical history and take your temperature, pulse and blood pressure.
Pre-Admission Clinic
Some patients who are admitted to hospital for more complex procedures or those who have relevant past medical histories are requested to attend pre-admission clinic. This ensure that all relevant tests etc. have been carried out prior to admission and assists patients in understanding what to expect from their hospital stay.
Day Stay Unit
This unit cares for patients who do not require an overnight stay. Following your return from the recovery room, you will be transferred from a trolley to a recliner chair. Nurses monitor your recovery until you are fit and well enough to go home.
Emergency Admissions
Emergency admissions, including some admissions via your GP's rooms, are coordinated through the Accident and Emergency Department. Unfortunately, there may at times be a delay in your admission to the wards from Accident and Emergency due to the unplanned nature of the admission and the availability of vacant beds. It is not unusual for some patients to remain in the Accident and Emergency Department overnight when demand for beds in the wards exceeds supply.
How is my care coordinated during my Hospital Stay?
You will be admitted under the name of a senior doctor (a consultant surgeon or physician). This doctor leads a team of doctors who are on site 24 hours a day. The consultant is available at any time to advise the other doctors on the team. A nurse will be allocated to your care on each shift (shifts change over in the morning, afternoon and evening). Other members of the team may include physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, occupational therapists and pharmacists.
Private patient's care is provided by the consultant who you are admitted by. Services will be billed directly by the consultant. If you are a private patient you are entitled to personal treatment given by your chosen consultant. If you are a private patient, legally the consultant looking after you is also the doctor who will perform any surgical procedure. A brochure setting out your rights as a private patient at NHW is available below:
 Using your Private Health Insurance Brochure | type: pdf | size: 401 kB |
If you are a public patient, although your care is supervised by the consultant, your operation or procedure may be carried out by a medical officer in training.
How can I help in my Recovery?
Patients who are well informed about their treatment and care and who are involved in decisions about their treatment often recover more quickly than patients that feel uninvolved. Please discuss your treatment and progress with the doctor who will assist you on the daily ward round. If you have any concerns about your treatment or progress, this is the time when you can discuss them.