Your stay

The hospital has been specifically designed to ensure our patients feel welcome and comfortable with a host of facilities and activities to enjoy. 

There are two types of accommodation available at Ramsay Clinic Coffs Harbour:

• Ensuite rooms
• Twin share with ensuite

Allocation of rooms is made by the Unit Manager and based on the following:

• Availability
• Clinical need
• Level of health insurance

Although you may be allocated a private room you may find that after a period of time you will be required to move to a shared room. This will be determined by the needs of incoming clients, your level of health insurance. The average length of stay is 3 weeks.

The unit has a laundry with a washing machine and dryer. An ironing board and iron are also available, please ask staff. Alternatively, patients may send their dirty washing home with a friend or relative.

Special diets including vegetarian, vegan, diabetic and gluten free can all be catered for by the hospital. Patients can bring food and drinks in but fridge space is limited, please ensure it is stored and labelled adequately.

Patients may be prescribed medications by doctors, which will then be administered by nursing staff. Patients will not require their own supply of psychiatric medications, however if they have any medical conditions patients should bring medications for these conditions from home. All medications, including herbal and over the counter medications must be given to nursing staff.

Before your stay

Our Intake Co-ordinator will contact you before your admission is booked to ensure appropriate admission arrangements are made. They will also advise you of any health fund restrictions or out of pocket expenses associated with our services.

On arrival                 

Our admissions service was created to provide you with a more personalised admission process to help reduce the anxiety that is often experienced when coming into hospital. Our friendly admissions staff provide a point of contact during your stay.

Upon admission you will be required to a sign some important documents confirming your acknowledgment of relevant Clinic policies as well as reinforcing our commitment to you in providing a safe and secure environment for patients, staff and visitors:

• Informed Financial Consent
• Ramsay Health Care Privacy Policy
• Ramsay Clinic Coffs Harbour Code of Conduct

We want our hospitals to be safe, private places where people feel comfortable, well cared for and respected. That’s why we request certain standards of behaviour from all our visitors, patients and staff. Thank you for understanding of our Expectations on Entry.

Orientation

Our Clinic staff will show you to your room and give you an orientation of the Clinic before handing over to Unit staff. For security and safety reasons, this staff member will also collect all medications and prescriptions you have brought in, to hand over to nursing staff. (You may be required to transfer to another room or different Unit during your stay.)

Unit nursing staff will introduce themselves and explain routines relevant to your treatment and conduct a general admission assessment with you. This assessment - in conjunction with your treating Psychiatrist - will provide the basis for your admission care plan during your stay.

The Nurse Unit Manager will call in to see you to ensure you have everything you need. Their primary role is to coordinate your treatment plan and the multi-disciplinary treatment team.

The first days of your admission are usually spent familiarising yourself with your new surroundings and starting to build a therapeutic rapport with your treating team and Unit staff.

Upon admission patients are placed on observation level 3, which means they are unable to leave the unit and are checked every half an hour. This is reviewed after 24hours and changed accordingly.

• Level 2 means patients may have some accompanied leave and are checked hourly.
• Level 1 means patients are able to leave the unit for short periods of time and checked every two hours.

General information

• Please note, in accordance with Ramsay Health Care policy and National Safety Priorities in Mental Health, overnight leave cannot be granted under any circumstance.
• Should you have any maintenance issues with your room during your stay at the hospital please discuss with the nursing staff who can report these issues to the maintenance department.
• Mail and flowers are delivered directly to your room. If you have mail to post please affix a stamp and give it to the front reception staff.
• The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights is available to everyone in the health care system. It allows patients, consumers, families, carers and providers to share an understanding of the rights of people receiving health care.
• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care have resources available for people with cognitive impairment and provide information on your right to get health care that is good and safe.
• Patients are not permitted to drive a vehicle while an inpatient. If your vehicle cannot be returned home by a relative or friend, please hand your keys to nursing staff who will secure them for the duration of your stay. You will be required to sign a form agreeing to these conditions.
• No alcohol is to be brought into the hospital or consumed at any time whilst you are a client of Ramsay Clinic Coffs Harbour. Non adherence to this policy may result in your immediate discharge.
• At Ramsay Clinic Coffs Harbour we provide a group programme Monday to Friday. Over the weekend there is a more relaxed programme.
• All internal areas of the unit are designated non-smoking. Patients and visitors are only allowed to smoke in the designated areas outdoors.