What to expect
We know our patients expect excellent healthcare. They deserve safe, quality care that meets their needs. We achieve this by:
- discussing patients' needs
- communicating clearly about their care
- providing consistent, professional healthcare.
Hunter New England Health LHD is committed to:
- doing the right thing for patients and their families
- doing it consistently
- doing it with respect.
Our staff receive training to ensure patients:
- get the best possible treatment
- have a positive experience.
This is how we care for patients. We call it 'Excellence.'
We understand that coming to the hospital can be confusing. Clear information helps patients feel comfortable and confident. We aim to:
- provide the best treatment
- show compassion and care
- build confidence in the healthcare team.
This is the core of how we deliver Excellence. We also incorporate Excellence into our work by:
How we provide Excellence in care
We understand that coming to the hospital can be confusing. Clear information helps patients feel comfortable and confident. We aim to:
- provide the best treatment
- show compassion and care
- build confidence in the healthcare team.
This is the core of how we deliver Excellence. We also incorporate Excellence into our work by:
Hourly patient rounding
While you are in the hospital, nurses will check on you every hour. They will make sure you are not in pain, change your bandages, and help you with tasks like going to the bathroom.
This frequent checking is called hourly rounding. It helps improve your health. If you need help right away, you can use a buzzer to call a nurse.
Patient care boards
Patient care boards hold important information or requests from patients. We have care boards next to each bed to help with communication between patients and their healthcare team.
Patients and their families can write on the care board. They can include questions, concerns, and important information like phone numbers. The healthcare team can write the patient’s care plan on the board if the patient is happy to have their care information displayed.
Follow-up phone calls
We like to receive feedback from our patients after their discharge from hospital. Our staff may contact you the day after you go home from hospital to hear about your experience. This allows us to:
- make sure you are safe
- make sure you understand your discharge instructions
- tell us about your experience while in hospital.
Children and young people preparing for hospital
If you are a child or young person with a complex medical condition, we have a range of tools and information to help you feel ready for hospital.
We also have helpful ideas and tips for parents, carers and guardians on how to prepare your child and yourself for hospital stays.
Information for children
Captain Starlight is a superhero who can help you to forget your worries and have fun while you stay in hospital.
At John Hunter Children's Hospital you can see Captain Starlight around the ward or in a Starlight Express Room. This is a fun zone where you can:
- play games
- do some art
- watch a movie
- play video games
- join in competitions.
If you can't get out to the Starlight Express Room or are staying at a different hospital you can still watch Starlight TV or log into Planet Starlight from your hospital bed. Planet Starlight is a place where you can have fun, watch live shows, play games and join in with activities while you are in hospital, in a waiting room or even at home.
John Hunter Children's Hospital
If your family is visiting John Hunter Children's Hospital, we have some fun places for you to take a break and have some fun outside of the hospital wards and waiting rooms.
- Starlight Express Room
- Ronald McDonald Family Room
- Fairy Garden
- Book Nook
Information for young people
It is important that you feel safe and supported when staying in hospital or having medical treatment. We have a range of information and links to help you understand your health rights, know where to go when you need a break and learn what to expect when going from a child to adult care.
How we use your health information
When you are in hospital or at an appointment, your doctor or therapist will usually ask questions and write some notes about you and your health. This information is used to help plan your care and is kept in a safe place.
Find out more about how your health information is used and your rights as a young person below:
Moving from child to adult services
The ACI Transition Care Network is a great place for young people with chronic health conditions to find information about moving from child to adult services (sometimes called transitioning). The network runs a Transition Care Service that can help you, your parents or carers and healthcare team with your transition planning.
Tools to help if you are worried
Do you find yourself worrying a lot? This is normal when you are unwell or facing new or ongoing treatments. It can be helpful to talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling, this could be a:
- friend
- nurse
- care worker
- doctor
- family member.
There are also some useful ways to learn how to manage these feelings.
Find resources, tools and support services below to help you:
- ReachOut Australia
- Smiling Mind: meditation and mindfulness app
- Why am I anxious? | Why do people get anxiety? | Kids Helpline
- I'm a young person - Headspace
- Beyond Blue
- Livewire: an online community linked to the Starlight Foundation for young people aged 12 and older who live with an illness or disability and their siblings. At Livewire you can:
- make friends
- join in with livestreaming
- gaming
- competitions.
Where to take a break at John Hunter Children's Hospital
Find out more about our fun places for you to take a break and have some fun outside of the hospital wards and waiting rooms.
Support for drug and alcohol use
Learn more about our Youth Drug and Alcohol Service.
Information for parents, carers and guardians
We have a range of tools and information to help support your child and prepare them for hospital or a medical appointment.
Reading storybooks to prepare your child
Reading books with your child is a great way to spend time with your child and support them to understand their feelings and prepare for hospital or treatment.
Hearts Connected and Redkite offer children's books about:
- medical experiences
- emotional awareness
- healthy coping
- grief
- loss.
Tools to distract your child during procedures
Distraction can be a great way to help your child get through many different procedures.
Depending on your child's age, some things that you can do to help keep them occupied during minor procedures such as vaccinations or medical examinations are:
- small toys for them to play with for such as fidget spinners, bubble popping toys, or a stress ball
- music books to help calm their nerves
- focused breathing exercises to help them emotionally regulate
- talk about their favourite things or tell them some jokes
- let them play a game or watch a video on a device
- for young babies it may be helpful to feed them during the procedure.
The TLC for Kids organisation has developed an app specifically to help children keep calm during medical appointments. The app has games such as popping bubble wrap, matching tiles and breathing exercises.
Where to take a break at John Hunter Children's Hospital
Find out more about our fun places for you to take a break and have some fun outside of the hospital wards and waiting rooms.