Hospitals, surgery and procedures

People from all backgrounds can benefit from language and cultural support in Victoria’s health system.

Treatment as a public patient in Victorian public hospitals is free to all Australian citizens and most permanent residents of Australia.

In Victoria, hospital staff roles vary by hospital. Becoming familiar with the types of hospital staff roles will help you understand who to turn to when you need help.

Victoria’s hospital system consists of both private and public hospitals, offering a range of healthcare services.

Depending on your situation and country of origin, you may be required to pay the full cost for medical treatment provided to you by a public hospital, and you may need to have health insurance for your stay in Victoria.

Patient-centred care, also known as ‘person-centred care’, is about treating the person receiving the care in the way they want to be treated.

Learn about the types of paperwork required before, during and after a hospital visit, and find out about your rights regarding your patient records.

Some rural patients have to travel to regional centres or metropolitan areas for the healthcare they need. The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme can subsidise travel and accommodation costs.

Specialist clinics at hospital provide services that are located in a hospital. This helps the service get the best outcome for your treatment and care

How your journey into hospital begins in Victoria depends on whether your visit is planned or unplanned, and what kind of health pathway you require.

Enterobacterales is the name given to a type of bacteria or germs, many of which normally live in your bowel. A well-known member of Enterobacterales is Escherichia coli or E. coli.

There is a range of support to help you communicate with your doctor and hospital to get the services you need, from interpreters to special food and emotional support.

Day surgery, also known as same-day surgery, is performed when a patient can be safely discharged from hospital on the same day they are admitted.

This checklist provides a list of things to think about regarding health decisions in hospital.

All Victorian hospitals have a patient services staff and social workers on staff. They can help you and your family with hospital accommodation and hospital support services.

Making sure your regular commitments are taken care of during a hospital stay will give you peace of mind to concentrate on your recovery.

In hospital, older people need to eat well and drink plenty of water for health and recovery. This is called nutrition and hydration.

It is important to talk with your healthcare professionals about any continence issues that you may experience when you are in hospital, so staff can investigate and help to solve the problem.

Older people in hospital will have hospital staff perform regular health checks and assessments during their stay.

When staying in hospital, older people need to tell hospital staff about all the medications they take, both prescription and over the counter.

Older people’s mood and mental health can be affected by staying in hospital. Ill health and medication can contribute to feeling depressed.

If older people experience pain during a hospital stay it can affect their mood, and ability to move around and think clearly. Pain can be managed.

Older people have a higher risk of falls and injuries from falls, and this especially true during a hospital stay.

Skin thins with age and can become very weak. Older people in hospital can be vulnerable to skin tears and pressure injuries. Skin care is important.

Older people need to stay active during a hospital stay. This includes changing position in bed, getting out of bed and walking around.

Older people may experience swallowing problems, called dysphagia, during a hospital stay. Finding the cause can help treat or manage it.

A hospital stay can be stressful for patients and their loved ones. All Victorian hospitals offer hospital support and hospital advice to people needing extra help.

Visiting someone in hospital is an important part of a patient’s recovery. Hospital visits from family and friends can help patients recover faster and reduce their anxiety and stress.

Your healthcare team may include a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, medical specialists, allied health professionals and complementary medicine practitioners.

Finding your way around a hospital can be challenging. Use a hospital map to find the different departments, services and facilities.

Going to hospital is stressful for many people, but knowing what happens on admission to hospital and understanding your hospital’s admission procedure can help reduce some anxiety.

Older people have a higher risk of falls and injuries from falls, and this especially true during a hospital stay.

Hospital security arrangements ensure the safety of all staff, patients and visitors and provide a safe and secure environment for everyone.

Day surgery, also known as same-day surgery, is performed when a patient can be safely discharged from hospital on the same day they are admitted.

Specialist clinics at hospital provide services that are located in a hospital. This helps the service get the best outcome for your treatment and care

If you need to go to hospital to see a specialist or surgeon, you have the right to choose both the hospital and the specialist you want.

Coordinating your hospital appointments well will ensure the process of diagnosing, treating and recovering from or living with medical issues runs as smoothly as possible.

Treatment as a public patient in Victorian public hospitals is free to all Australian citizens and most permanent residents of Australia.

Going to hospital can be frightening for a child. Preparing a child for hospital with the right level of information at the right time will help ease their anxiety.

Preparing for surgery is important. Maximising your recovery will depend on how you prepare for surgery.

Preparing for a hospital stay includes knowing what to take, making sure your home, work and family commitments are taken care of and making arrangements for your return home.

Before you go into hospital, plan your journey to make sure you get there on time. You might use non-emergency patient transport if it is clinically necessary.

The Aboriginal women's health clinic is a free, dedicated health service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Victoria. It provides culturally safe holistic care.

Victorians who need help to get to a medical appointment, but don’t need medical supervision or care during their travel, may be eligible for community-based transport.

How hospitals reduce the risk HIV, hepatitis B and C - includes blood donation and transfusions, infection control and prevention for hospital workers, patients and visitors and where to get help.

You may be able to receive hospital care in the comfort of home, making your treatment easier and helping you to recover faster.

In Victoria, hospital staff roles vary by hospital. Becoming familiar with the types of hospital staff roles will help you understand who to turn to when you need help.

The mobile women's health clinic services rural and regional Victoria. It has services for women's health, sexual and reproductive health, and health education and support.

Nurse-on-Call is a free, confidential telephone helpline that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

VicKey is a secure patient portal that hospitals use to talk to patients about upcoming surgery and specialist care. Find out how to register and access your details.

The virtual women's health clinic offers free, confidential telehealth support for women's health issues. Women, girls, and gender diverse people can access free appointments without referrals.

Women's health clinics are for all women, girls and gender diverse people living in Victoria. Referrals will be required for most services.

During convalescence, it may be beneficial to set goals for each day which will aid in your recovery.

Improving your lifestyle can relieve the symptoms of illness or injury and improve recovery.

Maintaining and tracking healthcare

Older people have a higher risk of falls and injuries from falls, and this especially true during a hospital stay.

There are laws that set out how healthcare professionals can collect and store your health information and when they are allowed to share it.

You have rights when seeking medical care, including a right to comment on your care, and to have your concerns addressed.

You have a legal right to know all the facts about your health problem and any treatment.

Older people have a higher risk of falls and injuries from falls, and this especially true during a hospital stay.

You and your carers should expect clear communication about medical issues and treatment options and costs in hospital in a way that you can understand.

Learn about the types of paperwork required before, during and after a hospital visit, and find out about your rights regarding your patient records.

You have the right to ask a doctor for a second opinion if you are unsure about your doctor's suggested medical treatment or a diagnosis.