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Day Surgery

Preparing for your Day Surgery at Gosford Private Hospital.

Your Hospital Booking

The booking for your hospital stay will be made through your Doctor's rooms.

Please ensure you complete the green forms in the Admission Booklet and return them to Gosford Private Hospital. Note: the Informed Consent section of the form must be completed in hard copy with your Doctor.

Where possible, we require your Admission Forms one week prior to your Admission date. This will ensure we can confirm your hospital booking and your eligibility prior to your Admission.

In some cases the Doctor will book you in for the next day. In these cases it is important that you contact us as soon as possible, and speak to the Administration Staff to confirm your Admission and details relating to your stay.

Online Pre-Admission

You can save time and paper by completing your pre-Admission forms online. Our secure Online pre-Admission Form is quick and convenient to use and we assure the confidential transmission of your information.

Admission Requirements

All those who attend our facility for treatment will be advised by the hospital if you are required to undergo a RAT or PCR test prior to admission. Visual evidence of both RAT and PCR test results will be required at admission. Please bring these with you.

Access all admission requirements here.

Costs and Insurance Cover

Contact your insurer (health fund, Workers Compensation insurer or other) to confirm exactly what costs will be covered.

If you have an excess or co-payment with your health insurance, you will be required to pay that amount prior to your Admission. Self-funded patients will be required to pay one week prior to surgery. Please contact our pre-Admission team to obtain an estimate at [email protected]

For further information, refer to the following sections:

Payment Methods

We accept bank cheque, Mastercard, Visa or EFTPOS. Please note that all credit card transactions will incur a 1.5% surcharge.

Admission Confirmation

If you are coming into hospital for planned surgery, we will contact you one business day prior to your scheduled Admission, between 2:00pm and 6:00pm.

During this call we will confirm your fasting details including the time of Admission, your procedure, and your expectations relating to discharge and your post-discharge care.

Unplanned medical admissions are usually arranged via a direct referral from your Doctor.

Before speaking with the Administration staff, please ensure you have the following information ready as applicable to you:

  • Name and contact details of your next-of-kin and a second local contact person
  • Name and contact details of your General Practitioner
  • Medicare card
  • Department of Veterans' Affairs card
  • Pension card
  • Health Care card
  • Safety Net or Concession card
  • Private health insurance membership card
  • Health history and a list of current medications

Getting Ready for Hospital

  • Please shower at home before coming to hospital
  • Do not apply talcum powder, deodorant, make-up, nail polish etc
  • Please remove all body piercings
  • Wear loose and comfortable clothing
  • Please advise your admitting Doctor of your current medications and confirm if you should continue to take these medications prior to your admission
  • If you are bringing a child to hospital for a surgery or procedure, it is not advisable to bring other children with you as there are no facilities at the hospital to care for them - refer to Children's Admissions for more information

What do I bring to hospital?

Please bring the following items with you to hospital, where applicable:

  • All medications you are currently taking (in original packaging)
  • Any letters from your doctor
  • Relevant Xrays
  • Medicare card
  • Private health insurance membership card
  • Pensioner card
  • Veterans' affairs entitlement card
  • Safety Net or pharmacy entitlement card
  • Drivers licence or accepted identification
  • WorkCover or other insurance details
  • Blood Group card (if available)
  • Dressing gown and slippers or comfortable shoes
  • Glasses and physical aids (walking sticks, hearing aids)
  • Personal entertainment device or a book to read

Please do not bring the following items:

  • Jewellery
  • Large sums of money
  • Other valuables

The hospital doesn't accept responsibility for security of your possessions, including jewellery, watches and money. Any valuables brought into hospital can be signed into the hospital's security safe for the duration of your stay.

Please note that mobile phones must not be used in some areas of the hospital, as their signals can interfere with electronic medical equipment.

Fasting

Fasting details will be advised the day prior to your Admission by our day surgery staff or your Doctor.

It’s advisable to refrain from smoking a minimum of twelve hours prior to your surgery or procedure.

Cold or Illness

Please contact the hospital or your Doctor if you develop an illness prior to your surgery.

On Arrival

Your admission time will have been advised by the hospital’s Administration staff or pre-Admission Clinic Nurse. It’s most important to arrive on time for your appointment as you may require medication prior to your operation.

On arrival, please register at Reception.

You may experience some delay or waiting time prior to your surgery. This delay is necessary to accommodate the clinical scheduling requirements of your treating Doctors. We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

What to Expect

Many diagnostic procedures only require sedation in order to make you pleasantly drowsy, yet comfortable enough for the Doctor to perform the necessary procedure.

Usually a sedative drug is given via a needle inserted into the back of your hand. Many patients don’t recall this, and only become aware when they are back in the recovery unit.

After your operation or procedure, you’ll be made comfortable while your condition is monitored until you’ve fully recovered. Once you have recovered, you’ll be offered a light snack prior to discharge.

For more complex procedures, the length of stay will depend on your condition after your procedure.

Accommodation

Please be aware that our Day Surgery (short stay) facilities are shared unisex accommodation.

Discharge

Before leaving the Ward or Day Surgery Unit, all patients are required to be formally discharged by our hospital Administration staff.

Please ensure you speak to staff at one of our Reception areas prior to leaving the hospital. Upon discharge, you’ll be given any necessary instructions, including a prescription for any medications and details of any follow up appointments with your Doctor.

A comfortable seating area is provided in the hospital foyer, for you to wait for your transport home.

Getting Home

If you’ve had heavy sedation or a general anaesthetic, you won’t be permitted to leave the Unit alone. Please note the following:

  • You’ll need to arrange to be picked up and organise a responsible adult to be present with you for the first night you are home following general anaesthesia
  • Staff will contact the person who is picking you up when you’re fit to go home
  • Transportation home by taxi is not permitted without a responsible adult who accepts responsibility to take you home
  • For your own comfort and safety, you shouldn’t take any alcoholic beverage for at least 24 hours after discharge
  • After general anaesthetic, patients aren’t permitted to drive any motor vehicle, operate machinery or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours

Special arrangements can be made to assist DVA patients to get you home safely after your hospital stay.