Calvary Mater Newcastle
Admissions
At Calvary Mater Newcastle we’ll make you feel welcome, whether your visit is planned or you’re arriving unexpectedly.
During your stay we’ll provide you with safe and high-quality care, which reflects our values of Hospitality, Healing, Stewardship and Respect.
At every stage of your treatment we’ll make sure you fully understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what will happen next.
If your referral has been forwarded to our admissions team will get in touch to organise your appointment.
Please note: The urgency of your appointment is determined by your General Practitioner or Specialist.
Emergency admissions
Preparing for your admission
Calvary Mater Newcastle has produced a Patient Information Guide, it provides you with information about your care and what services are available for you and your visitors.
You can download it below:
Please review your admission documentation – which includes information about any dietary, fasting or medication requirements – and follow the instructions carefully.
We’ll also send you information detailing the time and location of your admission appointment.
If you have any concerns before your appointment, or any issues on the day, please contact the hospital using the telephone number on your admission documentation.
On the day of your admission please be sure to bring your:
Admission documentation
Medicare card (if you have one)
Health care, pension or concession card (if you have one)
Health fund details (if you have private insurance)
An up-to-date list of all of the medications you’re currently taking
All your medications in their original, labelled containers
Any relevant doctors’ letters, reports or consent forms
Any x-rays or other medical images
General Practitioner’s (GP) contact details including name, address and contact number
Physical and mobility aids
Nightwear, dressing gown, non-slip slippers, comfortable clothes and toiletries
A letter of Work Cover approval, Third Party or Public Liability claims (if applicable)
Please note: During your stay at Calvary, your property is your own responsibility and we do not recommend bringing any personal valuables.
What happens after your admission will depend on the reason for your visit, but we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
When your admission is complete you’ll be fitted with an identification band to be worn at all times during your stay. The band is used to check your identity to ensure you receive the correct medications, tests and procedures.
During your stay you may move between ward areas on one or more occasions. Each time you pass from one clinical area to another a formal handover of your care will occur.
Family and visitors
Your family can accompany you through your admission and be ready for you when your procedure is completed or you are admitted to your ward accommodation.
Depending on your situation, your family may also be able to stay beyond visiting hours. But this should be discussed with a member of your care team.
Patient admission appointments take place at various locations.
Please check your admission documentation for details.
Fees and charges
This Calvary hospital is part of Australia’s public health care system and offers hospital care to any Australian resident under Medicare arrangements.
Regardless of whether you have private health insurance or don’t have private health insurance, the hospital will provide you with an estimate of expected hospital charges.
Private patients
If you choose to be admitted as a private patient, you can be treated by the doctor of your choice – providing that doctor has a right to practice at this hospital.
An Admissions Officer will meet with you to discuss your level of coverage and policy details.
As a private patient you will have access to a single room in our hospital if one is available and you have single room health cover. However, patients who are unwell will be given priority for a single room.
Public patients
Under Medicare you can be treated as a public patient, at no charge, by a doctor appointed by the hospital.
You can also choose to be treated as a public patient even if you are privately insured.
Going home
As soon as possible after admission, your care team will talk to you about a planned discharge date.
Before being discharged, your safety will be assessed against your condition and mobility, your residential situation, the availability of personal and social support and access to communications if an emergency arises.
When you’re discharged you will be provided with a formal discharge summary, a short-term supply of any new medications and information about follow-up appointments with your GP or specialist.
1. Who is picking you up from hospital?
On your discharge day you’ll need to arrange to be picked up by a family member or friend before 10am.
Please let us know so we can discuss alternative options, including our Hospital to Home service.
2. Have you made a follow-up appointment with your doctor?
You need to make a follow up appointment with your doctor as advised by your care team.
3. Have you discussed your medication?
Please make sure you have discussed your discharge medication with your care team. A medication review will be arranged if necessary.
After coming home from hospital you may have new medications to take. Please follow the instructions carefully and avoid making any mistakes with your medication.
Visit NPS Medicinewise for more information, or call your GP to discuss your medications.
4. Do you need care when you get home?
Any services that you may require when you go home will be discussed with you by your care team and, where possible, arranged prior to your discharge.
Calvary Home Care can help discharged patients with transport home, cooking, grocery shopping, dressing, showering and household tasks.
There may be a charge for Calvary Home Care services, or they may be provided partially or completely under a government assistance package.
The entire hospital and campus is a smoke free zone.
Patients, families and visitors cannot smoke anywhere within the hospital grounds.
We can help
If you smoke, please inform your care team and also consider whether this is a good time to quit smoking.
A hospital stay provides you with different routines and extensive peer support that can help you break your smoking habits and start to cope without cigarettes.
While you are a patient in Calvary, nicotine replacement therapy and other forms of support can be provided to help you stop smoking.
You have a right to receive safe and high-quality health services. Our Clinical Safety and Quality is benchmarked against National Clinical Safety and Quality Standards.
The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) publishes regular independent reports about how NSW public hospital and ambulance services are performing. Visit BHI to see how Calvary Mater Newcastle is performing.
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights describes what consumers, or someone they care for, can expect when receiving health care.
Tell us if you’re worried (REACH program)
If a patient or their family or carer is concerned about changes in the patient’s condition while they are in hospital, it’s important that you tell us.
First talk with a nurse or doctor caring for the patient.
You can request a clinical review, which means a doctor will come to check the patient’s condition, generally within 30 minutes.
If you are still worried, you can escalate your concerns at any hour of the day or night by making a REACH call. Dial 44994 from the patient’s bedside phone or another phone in the hospital ward. You can also call from a mobile or home phone to 4014 4994.
REACH is a communication process developed by the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission. It stands for Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way.
When you call, you will need to tell us the patient’s name, ward and bed number and why you have called.
A REACH clinician will come to the patient’s bedside to speak to you and address your concerns.
Calvary protects and promotes the rights of each person receiving care.
We take any suspected breach of privacy very seriously. If you believe your personal information has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Calvary Privacy Policy, you can make a complaint.
You have a right to access your personal information, subject to some exceptions allowed by law, and to request a change to your information if you consider it inaccurate.
If you’d like to access your personal information or medical records please contact the hospital’s Clinical Information Department.
We may charge a fee for searching for and providing access to your information.
Return your completed form by fax to 02 4014 4826 or by post to:
Health Information Services (mailbox 25)
Calvary Mater Newcastle, Awabakal Country, Locked Mail Bag 7, Hunter Region Mail Centre NSW 2310
Your patient experience is important to us.
If you have any compliments, complaints or suggestions for our team, please let us know so we can improve our service.