General information on hospital treatment

Contemplating hospital treatment

We have selected some of the more useful resources and highlighted these within our own website.

Our website also offers general information about the surgical specialties offered at our hospitals.

Please refer to your GP and/or specialist in considering your treatment options. They are best placed to advise you, based on personal circumstances.

Not all procedures are performed at all our hospitals, so contact your nearest Southern Cross hospital for more information about the specific procedures that are available there. If your doctor judges a procedure performed at a Southern Cross hospital to be right for you, you can be sure that we will do all we can to ensure that your stay is as comfortable as possible, and that you enjoy high quality care and service.

Caring for and supporting children

The comfort and wellbeing of children as patients is very important. If feasible, we suggest that carers visit the hospital before admission, to familiarise a child with the surroundings.

We also encourage parents or carers to stay with their child. Our hospital teams can advise on the availability of space and associated charges where a parent or carer wants to stay overnight.

We typically encourage a parent or carer to be with their child as they start their anaesthetic. This is best discussed with your anaesthetist and surgeon.

A favourite toy or special items often help in comforting your child, and we encourage parents and carers not to bring other children to hospital (or to organise more support for them if they need to be with the parent or carer).

Learn more about and caring for and supporting children.

What can relatives do to support patients?

Relatives can help more elderly patients to organise their visit to a preadmission clinic, check medications and patient forms, and so on. Patients are unable to drive following a procedure/surgery and anaesthetic, and relatives can help by organising transport to and from hospital in advance. If a patient lives alone, relatives may want to stay with them for a few days after discharge.

If a patient’s mobility is expected to be reduced following surgery (as is often the case) relatives can help to relocate a bed or other facilities to ensure easier access (particularly if upstairs), prepare meals for freezing and so on.