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Going into any hospital can be a stressful time for both patients and families. Knowing as much as possible beforehand can help ease the stress.
Information about the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service facility you attend will be provided to you on arrival or admission. Below is a guide for general information about your admission.
Gold Coast and Robina Hospital have single and shared rooms which accommodate both public and private patients. Rooms are allocated on clinical need. Very ill or infectious patients always have priority to single rooms. Your bed allocation may change during your stay.
If you are staying overnight at Gold Coast Hospital, Robina Hospital or at the Carrara Health Centre, you will be offered a choice from the hospital menu. Special diets can usually be accommodated.
If you are having an operation, you may not be able to eat or drink for several hours prior to the procedure. Nursing staff will speak with you about this in your pre-admission appointment.
Some hospital wards have tea and coffee making facilities available for patients.
Gold Coast Health facilities have café and/or vending machines for refreshments for visitors.
Gold Coast Health Public Affairs staff may approach you on behalf of the media to answer questions about how you came to be in hospital and your current condition. Your privacy and health is our primary concern. A general condition report using standard terms (good, stable, serious or critical) is the only information given in response to a media call. Patients will be asked for their written consent before any media activity takes place.
Medical Research is important in improving health care. You may be given information about research activities and approached by health care staff to participate. You are not required to take part if you do not wish to and your care will not be affected in any way.
Medical and nursing staff should be made aware of any regular medications you are taking. Please bring these with you to the ward, along with dosage information.
Organ and tissue donation is a personal choice and it is very important to discuss your intentions with your family. You can register your intention to donate after your death on the Australian Organ Donor Register. For more information please refer to the Queenslanders Donate website.
Gold Coast Health has a pastoral care team of representatives from various religious groups. They offer advice, guidance and support and will help anyone regardless of their beliefs. If you or your family would like to see a pastoral care worker please see a staff member and they will provide you with contact details.
If you are staying in Gold Coast Hospital, Robina Hospital or Carrara Health Centre overnight, take some time to have a look through the Patient Information Directory located at your bedside. This booklet contains all the information you need about the hospital and amenities available to you.
While our staff take every care, Gold Coast Health takes no responsibility for any lost or damaged items belonging to patients or their families or visitors. Please do not bring large amounts of money, jewellery, televisions or other valuables into hospital. If this is unavoidable, please inform nursing staff and they will arrange for valuables to be placed in the Hospital Patient Trust for the duration of your visit.
In the event of a fire or other general emergency, please remain calm and wait for staff to tell you what to do.
Smoking is not permitted in any area other than an outdoor Nominated Smoking Place, if available. Ask staff for the location.
If you are a patient coming into hospital and you smoke, your smoking will be assessed and you will be offered nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches or gum) to help you not smoke during your hospital stay. The patches and gum will reduce any withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability and anxiety.
All District staff and volunteers wear hospital identification badges that include their photograph, name and job title. If you are concerned about the identity of a visitor, please call a staff member.
The Gold Coast Hospital, Robina Hospital and Carrara Health Centre are teaching facilities for doctors, nurses and allied health staff. You may be asked if a medical trainee can be present during your examination. If you prefer to be seen alone your care will not be affected.
Many of our hospitals have special services to help you. If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, are hearing impaired or need an interpreter, please let the staff know so assistance may be arranged for you. Chaplaincy and counselling services can be arranged.
Information about these services can be found in the patient information directory. Only battery-operated personal electrical equipment can be used in hospital. For the comfort of other patients earphones must be used with personal radios or CD players. Televisions are available for patient use – ask the ward staff when you arrive.
Public phone facilities for use by patients and visitors are available at Gold Coast Health facilities.
Our hospital patients, staff and visitors appreciate the dedicated efforts of our volunteers. They help with a wide variety of support services and wear identification badges.
For further information, contact your nearest Gold Coast Health facility.
