Monash Health is committed to providing high quality, safe and effective care. Your healthcare professionals will work in partnership with you to ensure the best possible care and recovery.
Your hospital stay
Your admission
If your procedure is scheduled for the morning, you should not eat or drink from midnight the night before
If your procedure is scheduled for the afternoon, you should not eat or drink from 7am. You may have a light breakfast of tea and toast, but this must be consumed before 7am.
It is important that you arrive on time for your appointment to allow time for preparation.
- Surgical Booking Centre – Phone: 1800 786 188
- Bed Allocation Office – Phone: (03) 9594 2111
Surgery Pre-admissions clinic
In preparation for your surgery we may arrange an appointment with the Pre-Admission Clinic in the two weeks prior to your proposed surgery date. We would arrange this appointment if you need to see a doctor, anaesthetist, nurse or other health professional as part of preparation for surgery. This appointment provides an opportunity to discuss any concerns or ask any further questions about your surgery.
The Pre-Admission Clinic appointment may take two hours or longer depending on the complexity of the surgery.
Did you know, stopping smoking could be the key to a more successful surgery, and a better recovery?
What to bring
Documents
Where relevant, please remember to bring:
- Referral letter
- Admission letter
- All current medication, X-rays, test results
- Healthcare card, Medicare card, Pension card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card, Pharmaceutical Safety Net and Hearing Aid Services cards
- Private health insurance details, pharmaceutical entitlement number
- Copy of Power of Attorney, advanced care plan
- TAC and WorkCover claim numbers including employer details
- Two telephone contact numbers of a friend or relative
- Name, address and telephone number of your local doctor
Clothing and footwear
Bring comfortable, relaxed clothing for day and night use, including underwear, which must be cleaned and maintained throughout the stay by a family member or carer. All items must be clearly named.
Wear shoes that are firm and supportive. Bed socks or loose footwear are unsuitable as they increase the risk of falls.
Toiletries
You may wish to bring items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, a hairbrush, dentures and a shaver. Some items may be purchased from the gift shop at your location.
Personal items
If required, ensure you bring your glasses or contact lenses (with the necessary cleaning equipment), hearing aids (with a spare set of batteries), continence aids, and breathing aids (spacer for inhalers or a CPAP machine).
Valuables and Technology
While we provide a safe and secure environment at Monash Medical Centre, you remain responsible for your own valuables and technology.
ValuablesÂ
We encourage you to leave your jewellery, wallets, significant amounts of cash and other items of value at home.
Mobile Phones, tablets, laptop computers
You may choose to bring electronic devices however we encourage you to bring only what is absolutely essential.
Wi-Fi
Available throughout Monash Medical Centre.
Mains powered radios, TV’s, CD or DVD playersÂ
Please leave these items at home. Televisions are installed and available for hire at each bed. Battery operated radios, CD or DVD players may be brought into the hospital and used with earphones to avoid disturbing other patients.
Cigarettes, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
Patients and Visitors may not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs on hospital premises unless prescribed by medical staff, and these items are not permitted to be brought into the hospital.
Ward and room facilities
Telephone
Every bed has its own telephone, which you can hire. All charges will be explained upon admission. If you don’t wish to hire the telephone, incoming calls can still be received.
Television
Every bed has its own television, which you can hire. All charges will be explained upon admission.
Food and meal services
Monash Health specialises in preparing nutritious meals for people in a healthcare setting and serves a variety of options to meet clinical, dietary, cultural and religious requirements, including Kosher and Halal choices.
At your time of admission, please let your nurse or midwife know if you have any dietary requirements or food allergies.
Meal Times
Meals are served at set times across the day.
Meal Selection and ordering
Meal selections are taken daily by our menu monitors using an electronic meal ordering system (Delegate).
Special diet requirements and nutrition information are available on request.
Bringing food in from home for patients
We understand some patients prefer their own food. It is important that any food which has been brought in for patients has been prepared, transported, stored and reheated safely to prevent food poisoning.
Read more about food and meal services at Monash Health.
Spiritual care
Spiritual care offers people holistic and compassionate care through counselling, advocacy and listening.
Volunteers provide bed side visiting. Services of worship representing most denominations are held in our multi-faith Chapels.
Read more about spiritual care at Monash Health.
Getting worse? Are you concerned about a family member in hospital?
Patients and families often know something is wrong, before changes in vital signs and symptoms.
You know yourself and your family member best.
You may notice changes in the patient’s condition before a healthcare professional, and before changes are detected in vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, breathing and consciousness.
And what is normal for most people, might not be normal for you or your loved one.
That’s why we will regularly ask you, ‘Are you worried you (or the patient) are getting worse?’ during your time in hospital or while you are in our care.Â
If you say, ‘yes’, a doctor or nurse will respond and review the patient, and adjust treatment if necessary.
If you notice a change, are worried the patient is getting worse, or have other concerns about the patient’s condition, tell the nurse or doctor immediately. If you are still concerned, speak to the nurse in charge or ask for a senior doctor.Â
Patients, family and carers are part of our healthcare team. Â
If you’re worried, so are we.
Follow these steps to escalate your concerns.Â
Getting worse?
Tell us immediately and we will help
If you are worried you are getting worse…
1. Tell a nurse or doctor right away
What to expect: They will respond to your concern and do a clinical review
If you are still worried…
2. Ask to speak to the nurse in charge wearing a red and white badge
What to expect: They will respond to your concern and do a clinical review
If you are still worried…
3. Ask a staff member to call the Medical Emergency Team (MET)
What to expect: A team of senior clinicians will respond
If you need urgent help, press the emergency call button (where available) or shout for help.
If you need an interpreter, ask us and we will arrange one.
Transfers
Our services and programs are not offered at all or each of our locations. Therefore patients may need to be transferred to access specialist care for their medical requirements.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists will supply most medications during your stay and at discharge. Pharmacists provide advice to medical staff, nursing staff and patients. If you would like written information about your medications, please ask for a Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) leaflet.
Inpatients will not be charged for medicines supplied. However, any medicines dispensed on discharge will incur the same PBS co-payment as community pharmacies.  Patients will need to present their:
- Medicare card
- Healthcare card
- Repat card
- Safety Net card
- Pensioner Concession card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health card
Going home
Discharge is approximately 10am after consultation with treating medical staff.  Some patients may be transferred to the Discharge Lounge prior to leaving the hospital.
Medication and further appointment information will be provided on discharge by our staff if applicable.
Medical transport will be organised if applicable, or taxi services will be arranged at the patient’s cost
The Discharge Lounge is open 8.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday at Monash Medical Centre (Clayton), Dandenong Hospital, Casey Hospital and Kingston Hospital.
It is very important for your family members or carers to make plans for you to go home before the time of your discharge. We recommend this is done at admission to make sure you have time to plan a smooth transition from our care and back to your home.
Please work with your family members or carers to make all necessary arrangements (including with non-Monash Health providers), so you can be discharged at the date and time given.
If you feel you have reasons that may stop you from leaving Monash Health or returning home, please talk with your treating team as early as possible so that they can discuss other options with you.
Following your discharge, it is important to follow your dietitian’s advice, such as maintaining a high-protein, high-energy diet to aid your recovery.