Your stay

assists in the development of all menus including those for people with special dietary requirements. Subsidised visitors meals are available.

The social program includes something for everyone – whether it’s taking in a current release movie or joining in music and art therapy, meditation and card making. You may like to have family and friends join you for a meal and we have family BBQs, high teas and musical entertainment on a regular basis.

We have a gymnasium and our fully qualified gym instructor writes a program for each patient taking into account their health and wellbeing needs. In addition to fully supervised gym sessions, we offer classes such as Tai Chi, yoga and Pilates. Patients are also encouraged to take walks around the lake.

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 and can help with any questions or needs such as ordering flowers.

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
• Lakeside Clinic 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.

When you are admitted, please ask our staff if mobiles can be used in your room. Mobiles may be used in all public areas.

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.

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.
• The patient noticeboards near the nurses office have a copy of the program timetable, information about Official Visitors, the cinema program and other general information.
• 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.
• A closed circuit television (CCTV) system is installed throughout the Hospital to assist in the maintenance of a safe and secure environment for all patients, visitors and staff. Footage will only be accessed by persons authorised to do so.
• No alcohol is to be brought into the hospital or consumed at any time whilst you are a client of Lakeside Clinic. Non adherence to this policy may result in your immediate discharge.
• The Lakeside Clinc is a Smoke Free campus