Admission

Pre-admission

Our dedicated team is committed to providing the highest standards of care, treating every patient with respect and dignity. 

Your surgeon will arrange the date and time of your admission for surgery, explain the procedure and provide a consent form for you to complete.  

To make the process even easier, Ramsay Surgical Centre Charlestown provides an online pre-admission portal, allowing you to submit your forms and necessary details before your stay.

Before you begin, have the following information ready:  

• personal and next-of-kin details
• Medicare card (if applicable)
• funding details (e.g. private health insurance, Department of Veterans' Affairs [DVA],  WorkCover or self-funding)
• benefit details (e.g. pharmacy benefit card or pension card)
• item numbers provided by your doctor (if applicable)
• details about implantable medical devices (e.g. prosthetics or disposables) if your doctor has supplied this information

We also recommend confirming your private health insurance coverage with your health fund to ensure a smooth process. 

If you have any concerns about your pre-admission, contact Ramsay Health Hub Customer Care :

• Phone: 1800 716 688   
• Email: ramsayhealthhub@ramsayhealth.com.au 

Nursing pre-admission

You may receive a phone call from our pre-admission nurse on the day before your admission.

If you are contacted, they will: 

• Review your medical history with you and discuss you admission and discharge details. 
• Address any questions or concerns regarding your admission and recovery. 

Admission

When you arrive

Please note that your admission time is not the same as your surgery time.   

When you arrive, check in at the front reception at the time provided by your doctor and our team will guide you to the admission area. 

What to bring

You can use this list of essential items to help prepare for your hospital stay. Depending on your procedure, the list may vary and your care team will advise you. If you're unsure, contact us.

• Doctor’s letters: Any letters regarding your procedure.
• X-rays, scans and medical reports: Include any relevant imaging or documentation.
• Medications and prescriptions: Bring all current medications or a list with dosage and frequency (your general practitioner can help with this).
• Medicare and entitlement cards: Ensure you have your Medicare card, pension card or any other entitlement cards.
• Health fund or Veterans' Affairs details: Include your private health insurance information or Veterans’ Affairs Entitlement Card.
• Clothing for day surgery: Wear loose, comfortable clothing suitable for your procedure.
• Personal items for overnight stays: Pack essentials such as nightwear, a dressing gown, slippers and toiletries.
• Payment details: A credit card or cash to cover any hospital excess, co-payment or out of pocket expenses.
• Legal documents (if applicable): A certified copy of your Advanced Health Directive or Enduring Power of Attorney.

 Surgery preparation: We will provide details on your surgery time and when to begin fasting (“nil by mouth”), including when to stop eating or drinking before your procedure. 

Important reminder: Please avoid bringing valuables such as jewelry or large sums of money to the hospital. 

For specific instructions, refer to your doctor.