- Any GP or Specialist letters
- Your current medications in their original packages (including vitamins, mixtures, creams, inhalers and drops)
- A list from your doctor of your current medications, their strength and dosages
- Medicare card, private health fund details and card, Department of Veteran Affairs card, pension/concession card, pharmaceutical entitlement card and Safety Net number
- Any Advanced Health Directives or Enduring Power of Attorneys (certified copy)
- Payment for hospital related charges
- Glasses, hearing aids and non-electric walking aids
- Sleepwear, dressing gown and closed in shoes/slippers with non-slip soles
- Personal toiletries
- Mobile phone charger (if applicable)
- Clothes for going home.
- Jewellery (a wedding ring and watch are permitted)
- Large amounts of cash
- Other valuables
- Electrical appliances including hair dryers and straightening irons or similar
- Unnecessary clothing and luggage
- You will be provided with a security locker for medication and small personal items.
Spendelove Private Hospital cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged personal items or valuables. Please label your belongings clearly so they can be identified easily.
Rooms
Spendelove Private Hospital offers a high standard of accommodation. All rooms are private, ensuited, single occupancy and some have open or enclosed balconies.We understand that many of our patients have been to Spendelove Private Hospital before and would prefer their same room however we appreciate your understanding if this is not possible.When arriving at Spendelove Private Hospital, you will be welcomed at Reception and guided by a nurse and carer to your room.
Parking
There is free parking located at the front of the hospital and also in the surrounding streets of Spendelove Avenue.
Telephone
A telephone is provided at each bedside for your convenience. All local, interstate numbers and mobile calls are included in your Incidentals charge.For general enquiries please contact Reception between the hours of 8.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.All patients have a direct dial number to their room. The prefix is 07 55 557 _ _ _ with the last three (3) digits being the room number. The phone number is on the handset itself, and the number is shown on outgoing calls.
Bathroom
Amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, soap and tissues are provided in all patient rooms on arrival.
Smoking
Spendelove Private Hospital is committed to providing a smoke-free facility to support the well-being of patients, staff and visitors. Smoking is prohibited in all areas.This includes but is not limited to all buildings, public areas, walkways, grounds, gardens and carparks.
Postal Facilities
Incoming mail is delivered to patients’ rooms on a daily basis. Any letters received after departure will be forwarded to the patient’s home address. The postal address of the hospital is: 24 Spendelove Avenue, Southport, Queensland 4215.
Pharmacy
As an inpatient, medications will be dispensed from our pharmacy service. Patients may be charged for dispensed items. Payment for these must be made at Reception on discharge.Patients holding a Health Concession Card, Pension Card, Veterans’ Affairs Card, Safety Net Card and/or Medicare Card are requested to ensure that they supply these card details to Reception when admitted. Patients who do not provide these details upon admission may be charged the full price for these items.
Patient Equipment
We encourage patients to bring their mobility aids into hospital. If patients need equipment such as bed cradles, mobility aids or raised toilet seats while admitted, please discuss the special needs with the nursing team as soon as possible.
Pressure Injury Prevention
A pressure injury is an area that has been damaged due to unrelieved pressure.Although appearing minor (e.g. redness on the skin) it can hide more damage under the skin surface.It is important that patients relieve pressure by changing their position frequently when lying in bed or sitting in a chair and by keeping as active as possible.If any tenderness or soreness over a bony area is noticed or if any reddened, blistered or broken skin appears, patients should advise our medical team who will assess the area and provide assistance in redressing.
Television
Spendelove Private Hospital offers a wide variety of entertainment choices on the smart television located in all rooms. This includes access to free local TV channels, and access to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. by using your personal subscription log-in details.
Library
Spendelove Private Hospital has a variety of books available for patients to read while they are in hospital.
Air Conditioning & Heating
Patients have control of the regulation of the air conditioning/heating/fan in their room.
Call Buttons
Please do not hesitate to call the nursing staff via the nurse call buttons located in the bedside handsets or ensuite.Our staff endeavour to answer calls as quickly as possible.
Veterans' Affairs Officers
Veterans who are admitted to hospital can be visited by a DVA officer. Officers are always happy to visit a veteran. Discharge arrangements can be discussed with the nursing team.
Doctors
The Admitting Doctor will be responsible for patient’s medical treatment. This is the person with whom treatment discussions should be directed while patients are admitted in hospital.From time to time, our medical team may need to contact the patient’s GP or Surgeon/Specialist to discuss treatment options.Spendelove Private Hospital’s doctors are available to assist patients at any time.There will not be a gap or out-of-pocket expense for these consultations which are bulk-billed through Medicare.In addition, specialist doctors consult for the hospital. If care is required from one of these specialists then you may be billed for a consultation but these costs will be explained at the time.
Infection Control
Spendelove Private Hospital is committed to ensuring that all patients have the highest quality of care by preventing the spread of infection.As part of our service to ensure patients’ speedy recovery and to reduce the risk of infection, we have high standards of housekeeping, hand washing protocols and the use of sterile techniques and equipment as part of our service.Patients and visitors also have a major role in reducing the risk of infection to both themselves and other patients.Alcohol based handrubs are a very effective form of hand hygiene and are located at strategic locations throughout the hospital. All patients and visitors are encouraged to use these.The following are a few very simple guidelines:Always wash hands and ensure that this occurs before any meal Ask visitors to wash their hands or use the waterless handwash agents when entering patients’ rooms and before leaving When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth – dispose of used tissues hygienically Always keep toiletries for sole use only Mention to nursing staff any concerns regarding hygiene of the bedroom or bathroom Please avoid sitting on the beds of other patients. Please use the chairs provided.We ask that family and friends do not visit patients or enter the hospital if they are experiencing gastroenteritis symptoms or have any other contagious diseases.The nursing team will happily assist with any questions about infection control. The hospital’s Infection Control Coordinator is also available to answer any queries. Your co-operation in helping the hospital to maintain a high standard of infection control is appreciated.
Meals
Our catering department prepares a variety of top quality, fresh meals, which are all prepared on-site.Our enthusiastic and caring kitchen staff cater to each of our patient’s specific tastes and dietary requirements.All food is prepared according to current food safety requirements and legislation. This ensures that the food provided is safe and hygienic. To comply with these requirements, we discourage patients and their visitors from bringing in food from external sources.Spendelove Private Hospital cannot be held responsible for any adverse conditions a patient may acquire from eating food not provided by our catering team.Meal times are as follows (approximate):Breakfast…………….7:00am Lunch…………………12:00pm Dinner…………………6:00pmTea and coffee, morning tea, afternoon tea and supper are also served.
News
You are welcome to access the hospital Wi-Fi to read the free news sites on the internet, or use your personal news subscription sites.
Meals For Guests
Meals prepared by the catering department may be provided for relatives and visitors at an additional cost. To purchase a meal, please visit Reception or speak to a member of the catering team. Visitors are also encouraged to take advantage of the tea and coffee facilities on the third floor.
Internet Access
Personal access to Wi-Fi is available to all patients while in hospital. If using a personal laptop or tablet, please ask Reception for a password and logon for the WIFI network.
Servicing Of Rooms
Housekeeping staff attends to each room daily and replenish stocks as required.
Bed Adjustments
The beds throughout the hospital are electric. The head of the bed can be raised and lowered, and the length of the bed adjusted; our staff will show patients how to use the hand control.
Chaplains/Clergy/Spirtual Needs
Accredited Chaplains visit the hospital regularly. Please request a visit through Reception who will make arrangements on the patient’s behalf.
Medications
Patients should bring current medications in their original packages (including vitamins, mixtures, creams, inhalers and drops). Upon admission, these medications should be given to the nurse. All medications will be stored in locked cabinets.Also, if possible, please bring a list of current medications, their strength and dosages.Any additional medication required while in hospital will be ordered and supplied. Upon discharge, medications that patients are receiving will be provided for patients to resume at home.Spendelove Private Hospital has its own pharmacy imprest, as well as a pharmacy service. It is possible that some pharmacy costs will be incurred while a patient at Spendelove Private Hospital, some of which are payable on discharge.Most medications for patients are charged at the current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) rate. Sometimes, a more expensive item may be prescribed for which a portion may be claimed back from your health fund (depending on the level of cover).In all cases patients are only prescribed and charged for what the doctors consider necessary.Our medical team will endeavour to answer any questions regarding the drugs and their pricing (while a patient is in hospital or after discharge).Please bring any government concession cards including Safety Net details.
Patient Manual Handling
On admission, the admitting nurse assesses patients in relation to their ability to move in bed, sit up, stand and walk.Our team will assess, on an ongoing basis during admission, a patient’s ability to move. The assessment will be recorded on a Patient Risk Assessment Form and become part of the clinical notes. Patients requiring assistance to move on or off the bed may be mobilised with the aide of equipment to facilitate movement and make patients more comfortable and safe. This will also reduce the risk of injury to staff assisting patients during transfer.
Blood Clot Prevention
Blood clotting is the body’s natural way of stopping itself from bleeding. Clotting only becomes an issue when it is in the wrong place and blocks blood flow. Being immobile is a big risk in developing a clot and so the risk of blood clotting can increase when patients are in hospital and spending long periods immobile.Additionally, there are a number of risk factors to blood clotting. These include a patient’s medical history of inherited blood clotting abnormalities, previous stroke or heart failure, lung disease, being overweight, having had major surgery or smoking.Please alert the medical team if you have any of these risk factors.Our medical team will assess a patient’s risk of developing a clot and may request that they wear compression stockings or sleeves to reduce the risk of developing a blood clot. This may also include supplementing the prevention measures with blood thinning medications.The following will reduce a person’s risk of blood clotting:Being active and staying as mobile as possible Drinking plenty of fluids Avoiding crossing of the legs Taking anti-coagulant medications (if prescribed).Please alert the nursing team as soon as practicable if any of the following occurs:Sudden increased pain or swelling in the legs Pain in the chest or lungs Difficulty in breathing.If any of these symptoms occur after discharge from hospital, please seek emergency medical treatment.
Falls Prevention
The unfamiliar environment of a hospital together with the fact that patients may be fatigued or on medication can increase the likelihood of a fall.Patients can reduce their risk of falling in the following ways:Take special care when walking or getting out of bed or a chair, particularly when influenced by pain relieving drugs or other medications Ensure they know the layout of the room and taking care when moving around at night Use the call buttons or request a nurse/carer for assistance if needing to use the bathroom and feeling unsteady Check the floors in the surrounding area to ensure they are not wet before walking Ensure that footwear (or slippers) fit securely – rubber soled slippers are ideal footwear whilst in hospital If wearing pressure stockings, also wear slippers over the top to decrease the risk of slipping Avoid full length or loose clothing which may create a trip hazard.
Additional Information
A patient information brochure including additional factsheets on applicable conditions or treatment protocol may be provided during admission.
These factsheets may include:
- Hand hygiene
- Healthcare associated infections
- Falls prevention
- Pressure injury management
- Patient controlled analgesia
- Discharge information.
We encourage all patients to familiarise themselves with this information to achieve favourable health outcomes. Whilst you are a patient please raise with the medical team, who will be more than happy to assist, any concerns or queries you might have about this information.
