What To Expect
The following information applies only to those hospitals which provide gynaecological cancer services:
Visiting Hospital for the first time The following procedures are common to all public hospitals however they may
vary slightly from hospital to hospital due to administration method,
location and resourcing. Private hospitals do not usually accept non fee
paying patients:
Public Patient
Private Patient
Public Patient - with a referral from a doctor:
You will need to telephone the Gynaecology Outpatient’s Department at your
chosen hospital to make an appointment. At the appropriate time ask
directions to the Gynaecology Outpatient’s Department from the Information
Desk usually located near the main entrance.
At the Gynaecology Outpatient’s Department a staff doctor will assess your
condition and advise on possible treatment and/or the need to see a
specialist trained in the treatment of cancers of the reproductive tract, a
Gynaecological Oncologist. This may require a further appointment and visit.
The gynaecological oncologist will advise on a management programme and
organise a hospital admission if necessary.
Public Patient - without a referral from a doctor If you are experiencing an emergency, go directly to the hospital’s
Emergency Department which is usually well signed and easily located. You
will be seen by a staff doctor and if necessary taken to an Assessment Unit
for possible emergency admission.
Once admitted you will be seen by a gynaecological oncologist who will
advise the necessary management programme.
Private Patient- with a referral from a specialist gynaecologist As a private patient you will most likely have already seen both a GP and a
gynaecologist before being recommended to see a gynaecological oncologist.
As most gynaecological oncologists hold senior public hospital positions as
well as their private practises, your appointment may be at the hospital or
their private rooms.
Following your appointment, your gynaecological oncologist will advise on a
management programme and organise a hospital admission if necessary.
Private Patient - without a referral from a doctor If you are experiencing an emergency, go directly to the hospital’s
Emergency Department which is usually well signed and easily located. You
will be seen by a staff doctor and if necessary taken to as Assessment Unit
for possible emergency admission.
Once admitted your gynaecologist or GP will be contacted and advised of your
condition. They will talk to you about your advised treatment and suggest
the services of a gynaecological oncologist if necessary.
Hospital Admission
What to Take
Your hospital stay may be from 6 – 10 days depending on the procedure(s)
involved. The following suggestions are designed to make your stay as
comfortable as possible.
 | It’s important to complete any and all pre-admission medication or
procedures
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| Take any existing medication you may be on to the hospital
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| Take your admission / registration letter
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| Medicare Card
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| Appropriate X-rays
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| Use a soft travelling case only large enough hold the items you wish to
take
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| Wear loose fitting clothing to wear to and from hospital
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| Take comfortable flat slip-on shoes or slippers
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| Multiple changes of underwear (6 – 10 days)
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| A jacket or pullover
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| Hair brush or comb
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| Tooth brush & tooth paste
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| Face washer & soap
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| Necessary cosmetics
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| Sanitary products
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| Shampoo & conditioner
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| Reading or normal eye glasses
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| Small personal mirror
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| A good book to read
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| Some money for news papers etc.
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| Small change purse
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| Small wallet
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| List of important telephone numbers
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| Pen & paper for making notes
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What not to take Hospital wards are a busy environment with a large number of transient
people. Although the Trust Office of most hospitals have a safe that
patients may use, it is probably better to leave the following items at
home.
| Purses & handbags
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| Watches
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| Jewellery
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| Multiple credit cards
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| Unnecessarily large amounts of money
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| Expensive clothing & shoes
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| Personal radios
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| Mobile phones
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| Laptop & palm computers
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| Electronic address books
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| Any work that you didn’t get done beforehand
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Your stay Your hospital stay will commence by completing the necessary paper work at
the Admission’s Office usually located near the front entrance. This is the
time to have any valuables you have with you locked in the hospital safe.
You will then be taken onto your ward where the nursing staff will help you
settle in. The ward will probably be multi-bed requiring mutual
consideration for and by all patients. Any concerns should be raised with
the nursing staff.
You will be visited by your gynaecological oncologist and advised of your
treatment timetable. This is a good time to ask questions. Do not be shy.
Your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing are the concern of your entire
medical team.
The ward environment is natural and normal for members of your medical team.
They move quickly and easily through it performing their duties and
functions. However it is a new, strange and possibly intimidating
environment for you.
Don’t suffer in silence. If you have a concern, ask for advise from your
nurses and doctors. Although always busy, they are never too busy to answer
your reasonable questions. Don’t be embarrassed. Your same concerns have
been expressed by previous patients and will be expressed by future ones.
Hospital Services Today’s modern hospital offers many services that, in addition to your
doctors and nurses, comprise your medical team. Although it may vary from
hospital to hospital, these services include:
| Chaplaincy
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| Social work
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| Dietetics
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| Occupational therapy
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| Physiotherapy
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| Medical imaging
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| Chemotherapy
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| Radiotherapy
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| Pharmacy |
For further information on specific hospitals and their services click here.
Visitors
Encourage your visitors to come only during designated visiting hours. Avoid
meal times and ward quiet times. For further information on specific
hospitals and their visiting hours, click here.
Ask your visitors to organise a roster so that only 2 – 3 attend at any one
time. Encourage a stay of 15 – 30 minutes and then go! You will tire easily
and need rest.
Absolutely discourage visitors from staying all day even if it is allowed.
No one benefits, not you, your visitors or ward staff. You need to rest not
feel the need to entertain.
Going Home If you have concerns about your ability to cope at home following your
hospital stay, talk to your nursing staff before you leave hospital. In most
cases arrangements can be made for you to receive home based assistance.
This home assistance may include:
| Nursing
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| Physiotherapy
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| Occupational therapy
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| Food preparation
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| Home cleaning
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| Washing & ironing |
In addition, community based support organisations can assist with:
| Food & clothing
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| Shelter
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| Emergency financial relief
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Tips & Suggestions The hospital environment is natural and normal to those who work within it.
However it is a new, strange and possibly intimidating environment for you,
your family and friends. Some of the following tips and suggestions may help
to normalise the new environment.
| You and your loved ones will be under stress. Try to remember that
hospital staff are hard working skilled professionals doing a demanding job.
Timing non-urgent requests for assistance to coincide with their quieter
times will produce the best results
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| Write down any questions you want to ask as they occur to you. Under
stress, your memory can fail you at the wrong time. When doctors or nurses
come to see you simply consult your list
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| Don’t suffer in silence. It is not expected or wanted. This is true for
emotional as well as physical pain. Ask for help!
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| Talk to your nurse about any special concerns you may have about you
hospital stay - treatment – or resuming normal life
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| Don’t go home too early. Whilst hospitals have a real need to move
patients through the system in a reasonable time, they have no interest in
sending home patients who have not recovered sufficiently. If you think this
applies to you, talk to your doctor
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| If not provided free, hire a telephone and television from the hospital
service and stay in touch with the world. The rental is low and the
diversion high. Don’t forget a good book.
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| Theft from hospitals can be a real problem. Don’t take anything that is
unnecessary or valuable
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| Check visiting hours to save everyone time and inconvenience
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