Being admitted and your stay

How admission works

Arranged by

Your consultant

Deposit

Required for every admission

Cashier

Open 24 hours

Andrews grants practising privileges to private consultants, and it is your consultant who admits you and leads your care while you’re here. If you don’t yet have a consultant, our doctor directory lists everyone who practises at the hospital.

1. Your consultant books your bed

   They tell the hospital why you’re coming in, for how long, and what procedure or treatment is planned.

2. You get an estimate

   Ask us what your stay is likely to cost. If you have health insurance, our Patient Services team confirms your cover with your insurer and requests pre-authorisation where your plan needs it.

3. You pay the deposit

   A deposit is required for every admission. It goes towards your room, nursing care, operating room fees, medicines, supplies and tests. How deposits and bills work

4. You arrive and register

   Bring your ID, health card and your doctor’s letter. Patient Services will complete your registration.

What to bring

Tick items off as you pack. The list remembers your ticks on this phone or computer, and you can print it.

Having an operation? Read Getting ready for surgery for fasting, medicines and what to do the day before.

When you arrive

Come to the main entrance at 27 Hope Road. There’s secure parking on the grounds. At registration we’ll check your details, your identification, your insurance and your consent forms.

On the unit, your nurse will ask about your health, your medicines and any allergies. Tell them everything, including things that seem minor.

Your room and meals

You can choose the kind of room you stay in, subject to what’s available on the day.

Private

One patient, private bathroom

Semi-private

One patient, shared bathroom

Shared

Two patients, shared bathroom

Men and women are never placed in the same shared room. Most inpatient rooms are in the Tai Wing, which opened in 2005 and houses the medical and surgical units (Units 200 and 300) and the Maternity Unit (Unit 400).

Meals

Your meals come from the hospital’s own vegetarian kitchen and bakery. Vegetarian food is part of how Andrews cares for the whole person. Tell your nurse about any food allergies, and if your doctor has ordered a special diet the kitchen will follow it.

More about our rooms

Your care team

Your consultant

Leads your care, visits you and decides your treatment

Nurses

With you around the clock, led by the nurse in charge of the unit

Anaesthetist

Looks after you during an operation and manages pain afterwards

Laboratory and imaging staff

Carry out the tests and scans your consultant orders

Pharmacists

Prepare your medicines and can explain them

Chaplains

Here for you and your family, whatever your faith

Not sure who someone is or what they’re about to do? Ask. Everyone caring for you should introduce themselves.

Keeping you safe

Andrews is working towards international accreditation, and our goal is zero harm. You’ll notice some of that work during your stay.

• We’ll ask who you are, often. Staff confirm each patient’s identity with two identifiers, such as your name and date of birth, so expect to be asked more than once.
• We clean our hands. If you haven’t seen someone clean their hands before touching you, it’s fine to ask.
• Call, don’t fall. Medicines and time in bed can make you unsteady. Ask for help before getting up.
• Tell us about allergies and medicines. Including herbal remedies and anything you bought over the counter.
• Speak up. If something doesn’t seem right, or you don’t understand a decision, say so. We’d rather be asked twice.

Quality and safety at Andrews

Going home

Your consultant decides when you’re ready. Before you leave, make sure you know:

• The medicines to take at home, and how
• How to care for a wound or dressing
• What you can eat and do, and what to avoid
• The signs that mean you should call your doctor
• When your follow-up appointment is

Prescriptions can be filled at Andrews Pharmacy on the grounds before you go. Your final bill is settled at the Cashier, which is open 24 hours. Please arrange for someone to take you home.

Questions people ask