Is this your first visit to RMH City Campus? This video gives you a quick tour of the hospital from the front entrance to the Outpatients Clinics.
The most important people are our patients, their families, loved ones and carers. We want your time with us to be as positive and comfortable as possible. Our vision is to ensure every patient receives the right treatment at the right time in a safe environment.
Use A to Z buttons below for our guide to help you find the information you need about the hospital, our services and facilities, what to expect during your admission and useful contact numbers.
All information is relevant to both our City and Royal Park Campuses unless otherwise indicated by [C] for the City Campus or [RP] for the Royal Park Campus.
Advance Care Planning - Planning for your future health care and personal care needs. If there comes a time when you are too unwell to speak for yourself, an Advance Care Plan will help your loved ones, and the health professionals caring for you, to make the decisions that are right for you .
Alcohol and illegal drugs - Patients may not drink alcohol or use drugs on hospital premises unless prescribed by medical staff.
Allergies - You should inform medical and nursing staff of any allergies you may have to antibiotics, medications or types of food as soon as possible. If you have an allergy, you will be issued with a colour-coded wrist and ankle band and alerts will be placed in your medical record.
ATMs [C] - There are two Commonwealth Bank ATMs available: outside the bank near the Grattan St entrance and in the retail precinct, opposite Zouki Cafe.
Breast screening - North Western BreastScreen is located in Building 6 at the Royal Park Campus. The service is part of BreastScreen Victoria and provides free mammographic screening for women. The program is aimed at early detection of breast cancer. It targets women in the 50 to 69 age group but the service is also available to women over the age of 40. North Western BreastScreen also provides counselling, support and information. To make a booking, please call 13 20 50.
City Campus - The Royal Melbourne Hospital – City Campus is a tertiary teaching and referral hospital providing specialist and general medical and surgical services, including cardiac, diabetes, neurosciences and oncology, as well as being a Victorian adult trauma service and home to the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service. The RMH City Campus offers primarily Acute Care services focusing on treating urgent medical conditions.
Communication with residential aged care facilities [RP] - If you have been admitted to hospital from a residential care facility, our staff will communicate with the nursing staff at your facility about your care needs. We will send a comprehensive summary of your treatment goals and care plan when you return to the facility.
Consumer Register - You can help us improve the care that we provide by becoming part of the Melbourne Health Consumer Register. Register members can contribute in a number of ways, such as providing telephone feedback, participating in focus groups or becoming a consumer representative on a committee. You can choose how you wish to take part. For more information, email consumers@mh.org.au or telephone 9342 7760.
Contact People - We ask families to appoint one or two people to act as the contact point between hospital staff and other family members and friends. Staff will contact the nominated Next of Kin regarding any issues regarding assessment or treatment.
Dentures - Dentures are easily lost if wrapped in a tissue and left on top of your bedside locker or in your pocket. Instead, please ask for a denture container, which will be clearly labelled for you.
Emergencies (fire or evacuation) - Our staff are fully trained in emergency procedures. It is most important that you stay calm, do not panic and follow the instructions of staff if a fire or other emergency occurs. In the event of an emergency, you should stay where you are until a member of hospital staff tells you what to do.
Falls prevention - On admission your nurse will orientate you to the ward and give you tips on how you and your family/carer can help to prevent you having a fall while in hospital. If you are at a high risk of having a fall and sustaining significant body harm, your nurse or a member of the team will recommend suitable products to purchase such as hip protectors. We also encourage you to wear appropriate fitting footwear and clothing to reduce your risk of a fall.
Family / Carer meetings - While you are in hospital, staff may meet with you and your family to discuss your progress and plan your discharge. Staff will contact your family members to arrange meetings.
Flowers [C] - Flowers can be purchased at the florist in the retail precinct on the ground floor. Please be aware that flowers and potted plants are not allowed in some wards, such as Intensive Care and oncology wards, for patient safety reasons. See also Retail Precinct [C]
Home Modifications [RP] - If you need to make some changes to your home so you can get around more easily and manage day-to-day tasks, the occupational therapist will help you with this. The occupational therapist will assess what you will need help with and advise you on what changes or equipment you may need. These changes can take time to complete, so staff will work with you to plan any modifications early in your hospital stay. If your renovations are not finished by the time your Sub-Acute inpatient care is completed, or if you do not have alternative safe accommodation, you may be required to move into another inpatient program.
Internet access [C] - The hospital does not have easily accessible internet access for patients and visitors. It is available to some long term patients (eg oncology wards) where patients need to bring their own laptop, with modem and service provider, and this can be plugged into designated dial up points. Several wards have a resource room with a computer for patient and visitor use.
Laundry [RP] - All personal laundry is to be managed by you or your family. A private laundry company can launder your clothes at a cost. You can arrange this with the Ward Clerk. In the Rehabilitation Ward at RMH Royal Park Campus, there is a laundry for patients to do their own washing.
Leave [RP] - Some patients may go home on day leave, or alternatively carers can come into the ward to practise the activities needed to care for the patient at home. This helps family members develop confidence and also identifies any additional support or equipment that will be needed at home. Day leave is arranged by the treating team in consultation with the patient and family. Limited overnight leave is only permitted in special circumstances.
Medical certificate - If you require a medical certificate for work, Centrelink or insurance, please ask your doctor well before your time of discharge.
MediStay [C] - MediStay (previously known as MediHotel) provides supported accommodation to patients who require access to the hospital services without the need for acute nursing care or an inpatient bed. The MediStay provides comfortable, hotel-style accommodation to selected patients before or after treatments, procedures and investigations in hospital. Patients stay as our 'guests'.
Melway Reference - City Campus: Map 2B, B7 or Map 43, F4. Royal Park Campus: Map 29, D10.
Residential care [RP] - If, during your stay, you and your family are considering your need for long term care, either at home or in a residential aged care facility, your social worker will assist you with this.
Retail Precinct [C] - A retail precinct on the ground floor links the RMH (City Campus) and the adjoining Royal Women’s Hospital. The precinct includes Australia Post, Zouki Café and convenience store, Isabella’s café, Regina Boutique, HealthSmart Pharmacy, The Chocolate Box, Illusions Hair & Beauty Salon, Flowers for Everyone, and Telechoice mobile phones and the Commonwealth Bank. The precinct also includes the RMH/RMH shared Sacred Space.
Social Work - Admission to hospital can cause additional stress and worry, and going home may mean extra help is needed. Social workers are trained to help patients and their families with these and other issues and can assist with this adjustment and your planned discharge. Please ask staff if you wish to see a social worker.
Television and radio - Television sets specially adapted for hospital use are available for hire. Your nurse or ward clerk can help you arrange this. Due to electrical safety regulations, you cannot bring your own television. However, you may bring in battery-operated appliances. Personal radios and MP3 players must be used with earpieces to avoid disturbing other patients.
Valuables - Please do not bring any valuables to hospital, especially items such as jewellery, laptop computer or large amounts of money as the hospital cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to these items. The only money patients need may be for telephones, newspapers and food vending machines.
Victorian Patient Satisfaction Monitor - After being discharged, some patients will receive a letter from the Victorian Government asking them questions about their level of satisfaction with The Royal Melbourne Hospital. You do not have to fill out the questionnaire - participation is voluntary. If you receive a Patient Satisfaction survey and wish to speak to someone about it, please phone free-call 1800 143 733 or visit www.vpsm.com.au
