Staying in hospital

Being admitted to hospital may be planned or could be a result of an accident. Whatever your situation, here is some information to help you with your hospital stay.

Preparing for your hospital stay

It helps to be well prepared if you have a planned admission to hospital coming up. This includes knowing what to take, finding someone to look after your home, work and family life, and making arrangements for your return home.

If you are having planned surgery, see My Surgical Journey on the Safer Care Victoria website.

The following information will help you to plan for your stay in hospital.

Staying healthy

Before you go into hospital, try and stay as healthy as you can. Eat healthy foods, drink less alcohol, limit smoking and get lots of rest.

If you become sick in the days before you go into hospital, phone the hospital and tell them.

For your safety, your hospital stay may need to be changed to another date, when you are feeling better.

Taking time off work

As soon as you can, let your employer know that you will need time away from work. They may need to find someone to help do your job while you are in hospital and at home recovering. For example, you might not be able to do any heavy lifting for a few weeks after you come out of hospital, so they will need to find someone who can do this work for you.

Asking questions about your hospital stay

If there is something you don’t understand about your health or hospital visit, ask your doctor as many questions as you need to before you go into hospital.

Some questions you may want to ask include:

• Why am I going to hospital?
• Are there any possible side effects or complications from my treatment?
• How long will I take to get better?
• How long will I stay in hospital for?
• What type of help will I need when I go home?

To find out questions to ask when you are having surgery, see My Surgical Journey on the Safer Care Victoria website.

Managing home and family life

Depending on how long you need to stay in hospital, you might need to ask a friend, family member or neighbour to look after any of your other family members, pets or plants, as well as collect your mail and pay your bills.

Meals

Before you go into hospital, cook some meals or buy some frozen meals and store them in your freezer. This means you will have something ready to eat when you come home and won’t have to use up lots of energy to cook for yourself. Friends or family may also offer to cook meals for you.

If you do need to cook for yourself, keep all your food and cooking tools together, so you don’t have to move around too much.

Medication

When you go into hospital, take all your medication with you, in its original packaging if possible. Also bring a list of your medication, including how much you take, so the medical staff know what medication you use. This should include any over-the-counter medication, vitamins or herbal supplements you use.

Some medication you take may affect your treatment and your doctor may have to ask you to stop taking it.

Travelling to hospital

Think about transport and work out how you will travel to the hospital – will you drive, get a ride with someone, take a taxi or use public transport?

Whichever travel option you choose, give yourself lots of time to get there. You may want to arrange to have someone take you to hospital on the day, so you don’t have to worry about driving yourself and finding a park.

It’s a good idea to phone the hospital the day before you go in (or earlier, if they have asked you to) to confirm that you are coming in for your surgery or treatment.

Using support networks

Some people like to have a family member or close friend with them for support when they go into hospital for surgery or treatment. If you would like this support, ask your family member or friend as far in advance as possible, so they can organise to spend time with you on the day of your surgery or procedure.

Tell your family and close friends that you are going into hospital and ask one family member or friend to be your main contact during your hospital stay. You can then ask any other friends and family members to contact that person about your recovery, rather than everyone calling you at the hospital.

Tell your main family member, friend or carer about your wishes should something unexpected happen to you, such as death. You may want to tell them things like:

• where your important papers are stored (for example, your will)
• who you would like to represent you if you cannot communicate anymore
• what treatment you want
• whether you will donate your organs
• who you want to look after any other people in your care (for example, your children, a person with a disability or older parents).

What to take to hospital

It can be hard to know what things to bring with you when going into hospital. If you’re unsure, ask the hospital staff, who may be able to give you an idea of what you’ll need.

Hospital rooms don’t have a lot of personal space, so take only the personal things you need for your hospital stay.

Some items you may want to take with you could be:

• your address book with important details, including your local doctor’s name, address and telephone number
• a notebook to record important information, such as questions to ask medical staff
• pyjamas
• toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant and razor
• comfortable clothes that are not too tight
• books or magazines
• eyeglasses
• healthy snacks
• Medicare card, healthcare card, Veterans’ Affairs card
• any equipment you need to help you move (such as a walking stick) or communicate (such as a hearing aid)
• mobile phone or tablet and charger
• any paperwork the hospital has asked you to fill out.

Do not bring:

• a lot of money
• expensive things, like jewellery and watches
• too much clothing
• alcohol.

Before you go home after a hospital stay, it is important that you speak with your family and your healthcare team so that everyone is clear about what you need to do when you leave. Start your hospital discharge (transfer of care) planning early, so you can be sure all the support you need is organised before you go home.

Hospital discharge process

Your healthcare professional will develop a plan with you for your discharge from hospital and your ongoing care.

When speaking with your healthcare professional:

• Make sure you understand anything you have to do before leaving hospital - this might include going over your hospital discharge plan, picking up any aids or equipment you need for your recovery (for example, a walking stick) or filling a prescription.
• Be clear about anything you have to do at home to help you recover. This may include doing certain exercises, avoiding heavy lifting, drinking lots of fluids, changing your dressing or taking medication. Ask as many questions as you need to make sure you understand. It may also help to take some notes so you do not forget important information.
• Ask what activities you will be able to do once you get home, such as driving, bathing and climbing stairs.
• Understand what the warning signs might be that will mean you have to call a healthcare professional or return to hospital.
• Check if there are any follow-up appointments you need to make with your healthcare professional or at an outpatient clinic. Record these dates in your phone or diary, along with any special instructions for these appointments (for example, not eating before a blood test).

Forms and payment when leaving hospital

Before leaving hospital, make sure you complete all the forms and documents you need to, pick up prescription medication, and arrange to pay for any services or products that are not covered by Medicare or your private health insurance.

The things you might have to pay for may include:

• pharmacy items not opened when you leave hospital
• aids supplied for use at home (such as a raised toilet seat or a splint)
• pay TV, internet access, movies and non-local phone calls
• patient-requested non-emergency ambulance transportation.

Medication information before leaving hospital

Ask staff if you have any questions about your medication. Some things you may want to consider:

• Make sure you know what prescription or over-the-counter medication your healthcare professional has prescribed. Check dosages and instructions for taking them.
• Tell the staff what medication, vitamins or supplements you took before you were admitted. Ask if you should still take these after you leave hospital.
• Write down the name and phone number of a person to call if you have questions about your medication.

Arrange transport

It’s a good idea to organise your transport home before you leave hospital.

Home services

When you come home from hospital, you may feel very tired and not be able to do things around the house, like cooking or cleaning.

Find out about and organise any services you may need at home, such as district nursing or home help through your local council.

The hospital may refer you to a post-acute care program (this is when a group of healthcare professionals visits you regularly at home and works with you to make sure you are recovering well after your hospital visit).

You can ask about these support programs when you are in hospital.

If you will be spending a lot of time in bed as part of your recovery, put the telephone, your doctor’s number and any other important numbers in a place that is easy to reach from your bed.

Going home after having a baby

Before you go home after having a baby, speak with your healthcare professionals to make sure you are ready and prepared.

Some things you may want to discuss could be:

• breastfeeding and recognising when your baby is getting enough milk (including expressing breastmilk)
• sterilising and making up bottles safely if you are feeding your baby with infant formula
• changing nappies
• bathing your baby
• settling your baby.

Looking after your baby will no doubt be your primary focus, but looking after yourself is just as important. Ask your healthcare professional or midwife about:

• exercises for your back and pelvic floor
• postnatal depression
• how to take care of yourself
• who to call and where to get good information if you need help (such as the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29)
• support services close to home.

Make sure you have a properly fitted baby capsule for the car trip home. This is not only for your baby's safety, it is a legal requirement. The RACV and VicRoads have a network of stations throughout Victoria that can help make sure your baby seat is fitted properly. Contact either organisation for more information.

Going home after a transport accident

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has information for people leaving hospital after a transport accident. This can help you ensure the process is as smooth as possible.

Not wanting to leave hospital

You may feel like you are not ready to go home when the healthcare professional tells you it is time. Perhaps you do not feel strong enough - mentally or physically. Speak to your healthcare professional or the hospital social worker about your concerns.

There are many options for support at home and programs to help you transition from hospital to home.

Wanting to leave hospital earlier

You might find you want to leave hospital before your healthcare professional says you are ready. It is your choice to refuse treatment at any time and go home whenever you wish. However, if your healthcare professional recommends that you need the kind of care that is only available in a hospital, you should consider this in planning the services that you may need.

In some cases, you might be able to talk about your concerns and work out a way that you can return home safely with the help of some extra support.

When recovery is not going as planned

If you are feeling unwell once you get home or your recovery is not progressing as expected, review your hospital discharge plan and follow its instructions.

Contact your healthcare professional or call NURSE-ON-CALL (1300 60 60 24) if you feel you need to check anything with a healthcare professional.

Providing feedback about your care

If you would like to provide feedback about your care before you leave hospital, you can speak with the nurse in charge of your ward. If you have a problem about your care, you can also speak with the hospital’s patient liaison officer.

Where to get help

• Your local doctor