General Admissions

Your hospital booking

For planned surgical patients, 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 Dubbo 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 two weeks prior to your admission date. This will ensure we can confirm your hospital booking and your eligibility prior to your admission.

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 are required to pay one week prior to surgery. Please contact our pre-admission team to obtain an estimate at dubboprivate@healthecare.com.au

For further information, refer to the following sections:

• Fees and Accounts
• Veterans / DVA

Payment methods

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

Pre-admission clinic

If you are having major surgery, you may be contacted by one of our pre-admission clinicians and where required, be booked for a pre-admission clinic.

Before speaking with our staff, please ensure you have completed the hospital admission forms and submitted them to the hospital either in person or via the online portal.

Admission confirmation

If you are coming into hospital for planned surgery, you will need to contact the hospital one business day prior to your scheduled admission, between 9:00am and 4:00pm.

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

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

Admission Requirements

All Patients will be screened for COVID-19 risks prior to admission, including ascertaining your vaccination status. Patients assessed as requiring preadmission COVID-19 testing are advised that testing is at your own cost and evidence of your negative result must be presented at the point of admission. Testing must be completed 24-48 hours prior to admission.

The following evidence will be accepted:

• For PCR test results – show the NSW Health text message of the negative result taken 24-48 hours prior to admission.
• For RAT results - produce photo evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) COVID-19 test result from a sample taken in the last 24-48 hours prior to admission, date stamped.

PCR testing is required for the following patients:

• A patient with COVID-19 symptoms whose admission cannot be deferred.
• A patient who is a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case but is asymptomatic.

Rapid antigen testing (RAT) is required for the following patients:

• Asymptomatic unvaccinated patients being admitted for an overnight stay. Unvaccinated patients are at increased risk of significant illness.
• Asymptomatic vaccinated patients undergoing an aerosol generating procedure.
• Asymptomatic patients being transferred from external facilities to regional, sub-acute, and rehabilitation facilities, regardless of vaccination status.
• Asymptomatic day patients who regularly attend for day oncology or dialysis, regardless of their vaccination status, are required to undergo weekly rapid antigen testing.

What do I bring to hospital?

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

• Any letters from your Doctor
• Relevant Xrays
• All medications your are currently taking (in original packaging)
• Blood Group card (if available)
• Sleep wear, dressing gown, slippers or comfortable shoes
• Personal toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, soap)
• Glasses and physical aids (e.g. walking sticks, hearing aids)
• Sufficient cash for incidentals (no more than $50)

Please do not bring the following items:

• Talcum powder
• Jewellery
• Large sums of money
• Other valuables

For all electrical appliances (if essential), please advise the hospital staff on arrival as they must be tested by the hospital Maintenance Department for safety reasons.

On arrival

On the day of your admission, ensure you arrive at the hospital at the time designated by the Admissions Officer or your Doctor. On arrival, please register at reception so we can confirm your personal details, sign the hospital paperwork and admission forms and pay any out of pocket expenses.

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.

Your room and meals

Please refer to the Your stay and Meals sections for more information about our private rooms and in-house meals.

Patient feedback

We value your feedback at Dubbo Private Hospital. Whether you want to pass on a compliment or provide feedback to help improve our service, we encourage you to:

• Speak with your Nurse
• Ask to speak with the Unit Manager
• Complete our post-discharge Patient Experience Survey (this will be emailed to you)

For more information, refer to Your Rights.

Discharge

We aim to have you vacate your room by 10:00am on the designated day of your discharge.

Please check with your Nurse or Unit Manager before leaving the ward to collect any Xrays or medication, and to confirm if you require any follow up appointments.

All patients are required to report to reception to be formally discharged.

Reception hours are Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm

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

Getting home

It's particularly important that you arrange how you'll get home from hospital as it may of may not be appropriate for you to drive yourself home.

Please discuss this with the hospital staff and your Doctor prior to discharge.

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