Your family will be given a contact number to find out where you will be before they leave, or they can contact the Admissions Office or the Preadmission Service for this information.

Your baby will be able to stay with you; however, you will need to have someone to care for the baby whilst you are in theatre, and for the initial period post operatively.

Please consult your nurse about any medications that may affect your breastmilk. 

Most of the time, we will have been in contact with the dialysis unit to rearrange this. Contact them, or the Preadmission Service on 4215 1627.

We are able to arrange respite care for these people, if needed. This does take time to arrange, so we request plenty of notice. Children can be placed into foster care if needed.

There is help available to patients after surgery; however, this will depend on the type of surgery you have had, and the type of help you need. You can discuss this with the Preadmission nurses, or the ward nurses before discharge. They will refer you to the Post Acute Care Team who will assess your needs.

It is better to do this as soon as possible, so that we have time to arrange help for you.

Many patients need to see an anaesthetist prior to coming in for surgery. This may be due to the type of surgery you are having, the medications you take, or other health problems you have.

These blood tests are required by the anaesthetist, and may be different to the ones you have had recently. You should have these done at the time stated in the letter.

We do request that the tests are done then, to enable the results to be checked, and any further blood tests to be done if necessary.

If you are on the elective surgery waiting list, you are able to phone them with your queries via the hospital switchboard, (03) 4215 0000.

If you are on the Outpatient waiting list (waiting for an appointment), you will need to contact Outpatients on (03) 4215 1396.

Each surgeon has his/her particular preference. If you have been sent instructions for a preparation that has made you feel ill in the past, you are able to contact the Preadmission Nurses to discuss having a different preparation.

Whilst every effort is taken to minimise disruption to your life, unfortunately, these appointments are necessary, and cannot be conducted in your home town.

Most patients are now admitted on the day of surgery. If you are from out of town, and have no family or friends to stay with we are able to provide a list of accommodation close to the Hospital for you to use. It is not normal practice to admit patients the day prior to surgery just because they come from out of town.

For more information about nearby accommodation, please contact Social Work on ph. (03) 4215 0777.

The procedure that you are having needs you to have some bowel preparation. Without this preparation, the surgeon will be unable to complete the procedure/surgery, and you may need to go through the entire process again.

If you are having problems, please see a General Practitioner (GP) and request they contact the surgical unit involved, either in writing or by phoning the hospital on 4215 0000 and speaking to the Surgical Registrar. Alternatively, you can ask to be reviewed in the Outpatients Department.

There are limited single (not private) rooms available within the hospital. These are generally reserved for those patients who have had major surgery, or are seriously ill.

In this case, please bring what you require for your hospital stay, and we will make arrangements for them to be sent to the ward.

You won't need to bring sleepwear, as you will be changed into a hospital gown prior to surgery, and will be able to change back into your own clothes post operatively. Wear something that you will be comfortable in after the procedure. You may like to bring some toiletries to freshen up after the procedure.

Females may need to bring sanitary napkins, depending on the surgery you are having.

You may be prescribed medications after the procedure, so will need your Medicare/concession/pension card.

University Hospital Geelong: Transport and parking

Public Transport

University Hospital Geelong can be easily accessed by bus, car or taxi transportation.

Bus

Two local bus companies service the Geelong area. The nearest bus stops to University Hospital Geelong are located on Ryrie Street and Little Ryrie Street.

For more information, visit;

• McHarrys Buslines
• CDC Victoria
• VLine

Taxis

Pick up and drop off patients at the following locations: University Hospital Geelong Bellerine Street Main Entrance, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Kardinia House and Swanston Centre.

Phone Geelong Taxi Network on 131 008.

Vehicle parking

In order to assist patients, clients and visitors to access Univeristy Hospital Geelong we would like to make you aware that vehicle parking opportunities around the hospital are limited, and consist mainly of City of Greater Geelong controlled, metered parking, with time restrictions ranging from between ½ an hour to two hours.

Parking officers regularly patrol the streets in these areas and patients and visitors are at risk of receiving parking infringement notices if their vehicles are parked illegally.

As it is not always possible to know how much time you may be required to remain at the hospital may we suggest that you take one of the following steps to avoid the risk of this happening to you:

• Ask a family member or friend to drive you to the hospital, and when you are ready to leave, arrange for them to pick you up.
• Ask a family member or friend to accompany you to the hospital in order that a vehicle can be moved if necessary.

City of Greater Geelong parking availability University Hospital Geelong

• 2 hour parking on Swanston Street (east side between Ryrie and Myers Streets).
• 2 hour parking on Bellerine Street (both sides between Ryrie and Myers Streets).
• 3 hour parking on Myers Street (north side between Bellerine and Swanston Streets).
• 4 hour parking on Myers Street (south side between Bellerine and Swanston Streets).
• 4 hour parking on Swanston Street (west side between Myers and Ryrie Streets).

We would also like to advise those patients who are in possession of a Category 1 (Blue) Disabled Permit that in addition to designated disabled parking spaces; they can park for double the allocated time they have paid for at any metered parking space.

Some circumstances make it difficult to monitor the nearby parking meters. If you get a council parking ticket and need to appeal it on compassionate grounds, contact our Consumer Liaison Office, who will send you an attendance validation form. You then send this form, along with your appeal, the City of Greater Geelong. The validation form does not guarantee an automatic waive.

Private short-term parking in various areas close to Univeristy Hospital Geelong.

If you are having difficulties arranging transport, please contact the ward, clinic or community health centre you are attending. 

What are my rights as a patient?

Click here to learn more about your rights as a patient. 

 

The latest visitor advice and guidance can be found here. 

Latex safety
To ensure Barwon Health provides a safe healthcare environment for patients, clients, residents, staff and visitors with a latex sensitivity and to prevent an allergic or anaphylactic reaction in these people, we ask visitors to play it safe and not bring in any balloons, unless they are latex free.

All bowel prep will give you diarrhoea, but if you get severe abdominal pain, or begin vomiting, you should seek medical advice, either with your GP, or at the emergency department if severe. You can phone the Preadmission Service for advice during office hours.