Stay safe while you're in hospital
There are simple actions you, your family and carers can take to help prevent falls, infections, medication errors and other risks during your stay.
Good hand hygiene is important for everyone in hospital. This includes staff, patients and visitors.
- use the hand rub provided when entering or leaving a ward or clinical area
- ask your visitors to wash their hands or use hand rub before and after visiting
- it is okay to ask staff if they have cleaned their hands before caring for you.
Hospitals treat many germs, including bacteria and viruses. Sometimes a patient needs to stay in a room by themselves to stop germs from spreading. This is called isolation.
If you are in isolation, staff may wear gloves, gowns or masks when they enter your room. This helps protect other patients and staff.
Your care team will explain why you are in isolation and keep you updated.
Medicines are a key part of your treatment. You can help by:
- bringing all your medicines with you to hospital
- keeping an up-to-date list of your medicines and sharing it with staff
- telling staff if you have had any bad reactions to medicines
- knowing the name, purpose and side effects of your medicines
- asking what medicines you are being given and why
- asking what foods, drinks or other medicines to avoid.
Falls are a common cause of injury in hospital. They are especially serious for older people.
Tell your care team if you feel unsteady or think you might fall. You, your family or carer can also ask to be involved in your falls prevention plan.
Staying active is important. Try to move around safely and do activities that improve balance and strength.
View or download our Falls Prevention brochure (PDF 243.73KB)
Pressure injuries (also called pressure sores or ulcers) can happen if you stay in one position for too long.
To help prevent pressure injuries:
- move around as much as you can, safely
- change your sitting or lying position often
- check your skin and tell staff if it looks or feels different.
Warning signs include:
- redness or changes in skin colour
- pain, tenderness or itching
- blisters or broken skin.
View or download our Pressure Injury Prevention brochure, available in the following languages:
Delirium is a sudden change in behaviour, thinking or alertness. It is often caused by illness or infection. Older people are more likely to develop delirium.
Tell staff straight away if you or someone you care for seems confused or is acting differently.
Being in bed for long periods, having surgery or taking certain medicines can increase your risk of blood clots.
To lower the risk:
- take all medicine your doctor prescribes
- wear compression stockings as advised
- walk around as often as staff recommend
- ask what to do at home to keep reducing your risk.
View or download our Blood Clot Prevention brochure, available in the following languages:
Be part of your care team
Your care team, such as doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, will visit you during your stay to talk about your treatment.
When they visit your bedside, we call it a clinical round. When nurses change shifts and share information beside your bed, it’s called a nursing handover.
You and your family are encouraged to take part in these discussions by:
- telling us how you’ve been feeling in the last 12 to 24 hours
- letting us know about changes in your health
- asking questions about your care plan, medications or test results
- sharing your thoughts about your care
- asking when you might be ready to go home (this is called discharge)
- raising any other concerns
- providing any information you think we should know.
If you or your carer would like an interpreter during clinical rounds or handover, please tell staff. We will organise one for you. Interpreter services are free.
If visitors are not allowed at your bedside, your family or carers can still be part of your care by calling in on your mobile device using video or audio. Free Wi-Fi is available in all our hospitals.
Learn more about shared decision making on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website.
Your healthcare team needs up-to-date information about your health and treatment. This helps us provide care that suits your needs.
We may share your information with:
- doctors
- nurses
- allied health staff, such as physiotherapists, social workers, occupational therapists, dietitians, podiatrists and speech pathologists.
Setting and agreeing to care goals helps make sure everyone, your healthcare team, you and your support people, understand what you want from your treatment.
Your care goals:
- reflect your clinical needs and personal preferences
- help guide treatment decisions
- outline the steps needed to support your recovery.
Setting healthcare goals
Setting healthcare goals is important for improving your health outcomes. This video provides an overview of what you should consider when deciding on healthcare goals with your healthcare provider.
Before any treatment or procedure, your care team will explain:
- what it involves
- any risks and benefits
- what choices you have.
You’ll then be asked whether you agree to go ahead. This is called giving consent.
You can ask as many questions as you need to before making a decision. You can also change your mind and withdraw consent at any time, just let your care team know.
Important:
Family and friends cannot interpret for you when consent is needed. If English is not your first language, we will provide a qualified healthcare interpreter. This service is free.
Between the Flags is a safety system used in hospitals. It helps staff recognise early signs when a patient becomes seriously unwell.
This system is like surf lifesavers watching over swimmers, it helps us keep you safe.
We use colour-coded observation charts to record things like:
- breathing rate
- heart rate
- blood pressure
- temperature.
These colours help staff quickly identify changes in your health.
To learn more, visit the Clinical Excellence Commission website.
Raise It is a simple process available in NSW public hospitals and health services to support you to raise concerns if you or your loved one’s condition is getting worse.
You know yourself or your loved one best. If you’re worried you or your loved one’s condition is getting worse, follow the Raise It process. We are here for you.
Spending time in hospital can feel uncertain, lonely or overwhelming. Our Chaplains are here to support you and your loved ones during your stay.
Our team includes full-time and part-time Chaplains from a range of faith backgrounds.
How to contact a Chaplain
- Ask your nurse to contact the Pastoral Care team on your behalf; or
- Leave a request in the box outside the Pastoral Care office.
If you would like to speak with a chaplain from a different faith tradition or in a community language, let the Pastoral Care team know. We’ll do our best to arrange it.
Resources
Chaplains brochure (PDF 111.59KB)
Cumberland Chapel services (PDF 292.39KB)
Faith groups and religions
Representatives from the following faith traditions and denominations are available and can be contacted through the Pastoral Care team or hospital switchboard.
Contacts and locations
Our Pastoral Care teams support patients, families and staff across Auburn, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead hospitals. You can ask your nurse or the hospital switchboard for assistance.
| Hospital | Details |
|---|---|
| Auburn Hospital | Postal address PO Box 263, Auburn NSW 1811 Chapel and Prayer Room Located on Level 2, between the main entrance foyer and the Emergency Department (opposite the Cashier’s desk).
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| Blacktown Hospital | Location Level 3, Building B Postal address PO Box 972, Seven Hills NSW 2147 Hours of service Monday to Friday: 8.15am to 4.45pm Chapel Located in the Spiritual Care Centre, Level 3, Building B
|
| Mount Druitt Hospital | Location Level 1, East end of the building (opposite the Children’s Ward) Postal address 75 Railway Street, Mount Druitt NSW 2770 Hours of service
Hours of service - Catholic Priest
Chapel Located on Level 1 at the east end of the building.
|
| Westmead Hospital | Location Level 2, near the AB lifts Hours of service A Chaplain is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Hospital Chapel Located on Level 2 near the AB lifts.
Islamic Prayer Room Located on Level 2 near the library.
Worship and prayer services
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Volunteer Justices of the Peace (JPs) are available at Westmead Hospital to witness documents, certify copies and provide other JP services. No appointment is needed.
- Mondays: 9am to 3pm
- Tuesdays: 9am to 3pm
- Wednesdays: 9am to 12pm (afternoon available if required)
- Thursdays: 9am to 3pm