Patients going to hospital
If you're going to hospital, you probably have a lot of questions. What should I bring? What should I do about my regular medications? What care can I expect during my stay?
- Emergency department
- Getting a referral
- Appointments (outpatients)
- Day surgery
- Before surgery
- Staying in hospital
- Leaving hospital
- Wi-Fi, TV and mobile phones
- Your healthcare rights and responsibilities
- Your medical record
- Telehealth
- Interpreter services
- How to access healthcare if you're visiting from overseas
- Information for people with disability
- Learn more about going to hospital
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support
We have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers who can provide cultural support and advice to Indigenous patients, their families and carers.
Find out what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support is available
Visiting someone in hospital
Visitors are an important part of the recovery process and are welcome. Visitors can help people recover faster, and also help reduce their anxiety and stress.
Visiting hours may vary for each hospital and different wards.
Find out more about visiting someone in hospital.
Health costs, insurance and financial support
Find out what costs are covered when you go to hospital, options for patients with private health insurance and the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme.
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What's covered by Medicare
Medicare helps with the costs of seeing a doctor, getting medicines and accessing mental health care.
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Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme
If you live in a rural and remote area, you may be able to get to help with travel costs so you can access specialist medical services.
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Using your private health insurance
It’s up to you whether you use your private health insurance in a public hospital or Medicare.
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Long stay patients
A long stay patient is when you’ve spent 35 or more days in hospital.
Raise concerns about a patient's health (Ryan's Rule)
Ryan's Rule is a 3 step process to support patients of any age, their families and carers, to raise concerns if a patient’s health condition is getting worse or not improving as well as expected.
Read more about the Ryan’s Rule process .
Last updated: May 2024