Your Stay

Your Psychiatrist will discuss and direct your psychiatric, medical and paramedical treatment whilst you are in hospital. If you have any concerns about your progress or management please discuss these with your doctor, or the nurse in charge of your area. There is an expectation that you will attend recommended inpatient programs throughout your hospital stay

Staff Identification
Staff members wear photo identification badges.

VISITING HOURS
We recognise the importance of maintaining contact with your family and friends. Unless otherwise determined by your doctor, you are free to receive visitors, but you are reminded that your treatment program is very important and you are requested to ensure that visitors do not interrupt attendance at program sessions.

Ellard Unit
Monday to Friday 12noon to 1.30pm and 5pm to 9pm
Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm to 9pm
Visitors are requested not to visit or phone during therapy hours.
The public phone numbers are 9820 2363 or 9820 5314.
Staff may be contacted on 9256 8300 or 9256 8398.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Prior approval to visit must be arranged with your treating doctor and the nurse in charge of the shift. Babies and children are not permitted to the unit except in extenuating circumstance. Staff may be contacted on 9256 8378

Parent Infant Unit
Please check with staff. Visitors are requested not to visit or phone during therapy hours. The public phone number is 9820 2143.
Staff may be contacted on 9256 8304.

Adolescent Unit
Please check with staff. Visitors are requested not to visit or phone during therapy hours. The Adolescent public phone number is
98230 2145. Contact staff on 9256 8320.

Ramsay Unit
Visitors are requested not to visit at meal times and after 8pm. The public phone number is 9820 9498. Staff may be contacted on 9256 8312.

LEAVE FROM THE HOSPTIAL
Your treating Psychiatrist will determine whether it is safe for you to leave the Clinic grounds. If you are permitted to leave it may be accompanied leave with a responsible adult or unaccompanied leave.

Medication
All medication that you bring to the hospital must be given to the nursing staff on arrival. Please advise staff of any allergies or adverse reactions you may have to medication.

MEDICATION TIMES
8am to 9am
12noon to 12.30pm
1pm to 1.30pm
6pm to 6.30pm
9pm to 10pm
10.30pm to 11pm

IDENTIFICATION
Health Department Regulations require a positive identification system for medication administration. As a means of staff identifying you on admission a photo will taken. One photo will be kept on your medical file and another will be affixed to your medication sheet. Alternatively you may be issued with a wristband.

Alcohol, DRUGS & PRESCRIBED MEDICATION
As a general principle, it is unwise to combine alcohol or unprescribed drugs and medication. Alcohol or unprescribed drugs should not be brought into the Clinic by patients or visitors. Consumption of alcohol or drugs in the hospital, or leaving the hospital to consume alcohol or drugs, may result in cessation of treatment and discharge from the Clinic.

DRIVING/PARKING
Inpatients of the Clinic are not permitted to drive whilst receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment. Patients, relatives and visitors are not permitted to park on site. Metered parking is available on Albert Road.

Smoking
The Clinic is a smoke free environment. The ground floor courtyard is the only designated smoking area at the Clinic. This area is accessible via the dining room from 6am to 10pm only.

PATIENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
An information sheet outlining “Your Rights and Responsibilities as a patient at Albert Road Clinic” is provided in each room.

NURSE CALL SYSTEM
The nursing staff are ready to help you at any time. Should you need assistance please use the call bell, which is located in ensuites and next to the bed in each room.

Fire DRILLS
Regular emergency drills are conducted in order to ensure that equipment is functioning correctly. Announcements will advise when a test is to occur and what procedure to follow.

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
For safety purposes please submit all electrical appliances to staff for inspection prior to use. Electrical appliances are checked for compliance with the Australian Safety Council Standards.

Your privacy
All facilities owned by Ramsay Health Care comply with the Commonwealth Privacy Act and all other State Legislative requirements in relation to the management of personal information. You may feel safe in the knowledge that we safeguard your personal health information ensuring that confidentiality is respected and information is stored securely. Our Privacy Policy and Consent Form relating to collection and use of health information by the Clinic will be provided on admission.

Valuables
Our facilities for safe keeping are limited. We ask that you do not bring large amounts of money and other valuables to the Clinic. The Clinic does not accept liability for loss or damage to personal items. This includes, clothing, jewellery, money and electrical appliances.

Your feedback
As part of our ongoing quality improvement programs we welcome your feedback should you have any suggestions on how we can improve our services. You may also be asked to participate in some of our quality improvement initiatives such as Focus Groups and Patient Satisfaction Surveys. Ongoing improvements to our services and facilities are made from the feedback you give us. Please feel free to write to the Chief Executive Officer should you have any comments you wish to make.

OUR APPRECIATION
We thank you for taking the time to read this information and we appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance to you during your stay.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT THE CLINIC

For Your convenience:

The following services are available for your benefit. Appointments can be made by contacting nursing staff.

• Laundry
  Washing machines, dryers and ironing facilities are located in each unit. Please bring your own laundry powder.
• Mail
  Mail is delivered to the Clinic each day and distributed. Stamped letters can be left at Reception for posting.
• Meals
  A variety of quality, well-balanced meals are served in the dining room. We are able to accommodate special dietary requirements and ask that you discuss this with the nursing staff. Meal vouchers may be purchased from Reception if you would like a relative or friend to join you for a meal in the Dining Room.
• Dining Room Times
  The dining room is located on the ground floor and is open from 7am to 6.30pm daily. The dining room is closed for short periods throughout the day for cleaning. Suitable attire and footwear must be worn in the dining room at all times.
• Meal Times
  Breakfast               7.30am to 9am
  Morning tea           10am to 11am
  Lunch                     12 noon to 1.15pm
  Afternoon tea        3pm to 3.30pm
  Dinner                    5pm to 6.15pm
• Telephones
  Public telephones are located throughout the Clinic. Change is available from Reception. Mobile phones are permitted in the Clinic, however the camera function may not be used to preserve the privacy of other patients.
• Television
  Communal television (Foxtel) is located in all lounges. Personal TV’s are discouraged for therapeutic reasons.
• Vending Machines
  Soft drinks and sweets are available in vending machines which are located on the ground floor outside the dining room.
• Taxis
  A courtesy phone is located in the hospital foyer.
• Transport
  A regular tram service runs along St. Kilda Road. The stop nearest to the Clinic is the Domain Interchange.