Your stay
Understanding your surgical experience
Every surgical journey is different, and not all procedures follow the same steps or timeline. Your care team will guide you through what to expect based on your individual procedure. If you're unsure, contact us. Click the plus sign (+) on the right side of each heading to expand and view more information.
Check-in process
When you arrive, our reception staff will confirm your personal details. You will then wait in the reception area until a nurse calls you for your clinical admission.
Please note: Patients are admitted based on the order of their doctor’s operating list.
You will have the option to use our Patient Tracking system, which helps keep your loved ones updated throughout your surgical experience. With wristband scanning technology, they can receive real-time updates on important milestones, including surgery progress, ward transfers and discharge times.
Pre-procedure review
A nurse will talk with you about your medical history, check for allergies, take your blood pressure and pulse, and confirm your consent form. Your anaesthetist may also see you at this stage.
You’ll then wait until a nurse takes you through to get ready for your procedure. For your safety, our team will check your details several times during your stay.
Pre-operative waiting area
Before your operation, you’ll wait in a designated area where our team will help you get ready. This may include:
- shaving the surgical site
- giving you medication
- doing an electrocardiogram (ECG) or blood test
- cleaning the skin around the surgical area
After this, you’ll move to the pre-operative area to change into a hospital gown and rest on a bed until a porter takes you into the operating theatre.
Operating theatre
When it’s time for your surgery, you’ll be taken on a trolley bed into the theatre and anaesthetic bay. For your safety, staff will confirm your name and the procedure you’re having. They will also check your paperwork, your ID band, whether pre-medication has been given (if required), and any allergies.
To help staff quickly identify allergies, you may be given a red cap. In all other cases, you'll receive a cap to keep your hair in place.
Please note that visitors are not able to stay in the theatre holding area.
Recovery
After your procedure, you’ll wake up in the recovery area. Our recovery nurses will monitor you closely and make sure you’re comfortable and fully awake before moving you to the next stage of recovery, where you’ll be offered light refreshments.
If you’re staying overnight, our staff will then take you to your room with ensuite facilities for further care and rest.
Type of Accommodation
At the time of admission, your bed will have been allocated on the basis of clinical need and bed availability. Our hospital has a mix of private and share rooms. We will endeavor to provide you with a private room for your stay if this is your wish, however this will not always be possible.
For your convenience
Jamaica Blue Café
Jamaica Blue Café is located on the ground floor of Ramsay Private Hospital National Capital. There is available outdoor seating in the courtyard next to the café.
Mail will be delivered directly to patient rooms by our clerical officers. Should you wish to mail any letters, a letterbox is located on the first floor.
Meals & Dietary Requirements
Please advise nursing staff on your admission if you have any special dietary needs, even when this has been indicated on your pre-admission paperwork, as this is very important.
The Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code sets out the requirements for Food Safety Practices and General requirements in Food Safety Standards.
To ensure your safety, it is not recommended that any food be brought in from home.
Television, Wi-Fi & Phones
A television and phone are available at each bedside. Free wifi is available for all patients and visitors throughout the hospital.
Valuables
Patients are strongly advised not to bring valuables, jewelry or excessive sums of money to hospital. The hospital does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to personal property
We're here to help
If you need help, advice or more information, reach out to our team.