Can I get pain relief medication?
Yes. Even if you are in the waiting room you can still request pain relief medication from the waiting room nurse.
What to expect during my stay in the Emergency Department
Your care will often start with an emergency nurse. The nurse will assess your condition and symptoms before the doctor will see you.
Emergency department staff work as a team. Your treating team can include doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, and mental health clinicians.
As part of your assessment, you may need further tests to find out what is wrong. This could include blood tests and x-rays. We will discuss a treatment plan with you.
We encourage you to ask our staff questions if you need more information or if you don’t fully understand.
What happens after your consultation will depend on your medical condition. You may need to:
- see a specialist doctor
- be admitted to the hospital
- be observed for a while longer by medical staff
- get treatment e.g., a plaster cast or stitches
- get a prescription for medication
- be transferred to another hospital for specialist treatment.
How much will my stay in Emergency Department cost?
Emergency medical treatment is free to Medicare card holders. You may have to pay for services if you do not hold a Medicare card.
If you are a visitor from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Agreement with Australia, you can access emergency medical care free of charge. You will need to show your passport or reciprocal health care card.
All patients may need to pay for additional services such as prescription medication given to you when you leave, dental services, and television hire. If your hospital stay is longer than 35 days, you may be charged an accommodation fee. This only happens if you are staying in hospital, but you no longer require acute care e.g., you are awaiting placement in a nursing home.
If you have any questions or concerns about fees, please ask your nurse.
Can I use my private health insurance?
When you are admitted to the PA Hospital you can elect to use your private health insurance and be treated as a private patient.
Private patients can be treated by a doctor of their choice if that doctor has a right to private practice at the hospital. You can request a single room if your health fund policy covers this. We cannot guarantee that a single room will be available. Single rooms are kept for the very ill or people who have a condition that could spread to others.
If you choose to be treated as a private patient, you will be provided information about any costs.
Can I leave and come back?
If you are not present in the waiting room when your Doctor / Nurse come to find you, this may increase your wait. If you must leave, please ask the waiting room nurse. You will be asked to leave a contact number.
Can I smoke whilst in hospital?
No. Smoking and vaping is banned at all hospitals and 5 metres beyond their boundaries. Please ask your nurse if you would like nicotine replacement therapy to assist with any cravings. You can also ask to go outside to smoke.
What are my rights whilst in hospital?
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights describes the rights that you can expect when receiving health care.
For more information please see the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
Where can I find Emergency Department patient information sheets?
The Emergency Department patient information factsheets are designed to help communication about your condition. You may also be given a printed copy of the relevant information sheet.
What do I do if I am getting worse?
Talk to a nurse or doctor about your concerns. If you are not happy with the response, talk to the nurse in charge of the shift. If you are not happy with this response, phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or ask a nurse to phone for you. When you call you need to request a Ryan’s Rule Clinical Review. You will need to provide the following:
- Hospital name
- Patient’s name
- Ward and bed number (if known)
- Your contact number
A nurse or doctor will undertake a Ryan’s Rule clinical review of your treatment.
Ryan’s Rule is not for general complaints. For more information see Ryan’s Rule.
Zero tolerance to violence
We all want to be safe in an emergency. At Metro South Health, we have a ‘zero tolerance to violence’. This includes swearing, verbal abuse, and physical and verbal threats.
If you or you visitors display any of these behaviours, you will be asked to leave.