Your admission

At Calvary Adelaide Hospital we aim to give the best possible care and support to ensure your well being and comfort. In this section you’ll find information to help you and your family prepare for your forthcoming admission.

Patient Information Directory has lots of helpful information about your stay at Calvary Adelaide Hospital.

There’s a new way to complete your admissions details!

You can now complete your e-Admissions via our new CalvaryCare mobile app, an innovative, new platform designed to enhance your hospital journey and give you instant access to all your important health care information right at your fingertips.

Click here to find out more about CalvaryCare and how to download the app.

Alternatively, click here to complete your e-Admissions via our website.

One of our Registered Nurses will review your information and will contact you around one week prior to your hospital admission if required. To speak with one of our pre-admission nurses regarding your stay, please call admissions 08 8227 7000.

For all emergencies, call 000.

In the event of an emergency, accident, injury or illness, the Calvary 24/7 Care Emergency Department can provide immediate care and treatment. If you require admission, a Calvary Health Care South Australia hospital can provide various options for inpatient care. It is advised that you check with your health fund prior to admission to determine your level of cover.

If you are a member of a health fund we can claim from your health fund on your behalf and you will only be required to pay those costs not covered by your health fund, before or at the time of admission.

Our private Emergency Department is located at 120 Angus Street, Adelaide.

Emergency Department

You’ll need a referral from your GP or Medical Practitioner before you attend Calvary Adelaide Hospital. The referral will include the phone number to call to make your booking.

You do not need a referral to attend the Calvary Emergency Department.

The Calvary Adelaide Hospital pre-admission service provides patients with information and support to facilitate admission to hospital. Our team can also assist with information and options for care post-discharge.

How it works

One of our dedicated patient services officers will contact you prior to your admission to hospital to:

  • Discuss your care before and after surgery
  • Check your health history and complete other admission paperwork
  • Provide you with any necessary pre-operative instructions
  • Check you have had any tests ordered by your Doctor
  • Commence discharge planning to help plan for your return home
  • Answer any questions you may have

On most occasions, this will be a telephone appointment, however in some cases you may be required to attend a face to face appointment at the hospital.

The Day of Surgery Admissions unit (DOSA) is a purpose built, discreet unit located on the third floor of the Calvary Adelaide Hospital. Our modern and contemporary unit provides direct access for patients requiring surgery, supported by our friendly nursing team.

On arrival to DOSA, our nursing team will prioritise the order of each admission. They will guide you  through the admission process, preparation for theatre and answer and questions or concerns you may have. Relatives or friends are welcome to accompany patients during this process.

If you have private health insurance

Please contact your health fund before admission to check your level of cover, and to clarify any excess or co-payments you may have.

If you don’t have private health insurance

We welcome patients without insurance at Calvary Adelaide Hospital, simply call us on 08 8227 7000 for an estimate of costs. You’ll need to pay all fees in full prior to your admission.

Regardless of whether you have private health insurance or don’t have private health insurance, the hospital will provide you with an estimate of expected hospital charges. Knowing how much your treatment will cost is called Informed Financial Consent. For more information visit the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman website:

During your stay we’ll provide you with safe and high-quality care, which reflects our values of Hospitality, Healing, Stewardship and Respect.

At every stage of your treatment we’ll make sure you fully understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what will happen next.

Patient Information Directory

To help prepare for you and your family for admission, Calvary has produced a guide for patients and visitors:
Patient Information Directory

Use the expanding boxes below to learn more about your admission to Calvary Adelaide Hospital.

Please review your admission documentation – which includes information about any dietary, fasting or medication requirements – and follow the instructions carefully.

We’ll also send you information detailing the time and location of your admission appointment.

If you have any concerns before your appointment, or any issues on the day, please contact Calvary Adelaide Hospital using the telephone number on your admission documentation.

On the day of your admission please be sure to bring your:

  • Admission documentation
  • Medicare card (if you have one)
  • Health care, pension or concession card (if you have one)
  • Health fund details (if you have private insurance)
  • An up-to-date list of all of the medications you’re currently taking
  • All your medications in their original, labelled containers
  • Any relevant doctors’ letters, reports or consent forms
  • Any x-rays or other medical images
  • General Practitioner’s (GP) contact details including name, address and contact number
  • Physical and mobility aids
  • Nightwear, dressing gown, non-slip slippers, comfortable clothes and toiletries
  • A letter of Work Cover approval, Third Party or Public Liability claims (if applicable)

Please note: During your stay at Calvary Adelaide Hospital your property is your own responsibility and we do not recommend bringing any personal valuables.

Patient admission appointments take place at various locations. Please check your admission documentation for details.

Parking and transport

What happens after your admission will depend on the reason for your visit, but we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.

When your admission is complete you’ll be fitted with an identification band to be worn at all times during your stay. The band is used to check your identity to ensure you receive the correct medications, tests and procedures.

During your stay you may move between ward areas on one or more occasions. Each time you pass from one clinical area to another a formal handover of your care will occur.

Your family can accompany you through your admission and be ready for you when your procedure is completed or you are admitted to your ward accommodation.

Depending on your situation, your family may also be able to stay beyond visiting hours. But this should be discussed with a member of your care team.

Visiting hours

The Calvary Adelaide Hospital is entirely smoke free.

Patients, families and visitors cannot smoke anywhere within the hospital grounds.

We can help

If you smoke, please inform your care team and also consider whether this is a good time to quit smoking.

If you would like to quit smoking, we can help

A hospital stay provides you with different routines and extensive peer support that can help you break your smoking habits and start to cope without cigarettes.

While you are a patient in Calvary, Nicotine Replacement Therapy and other forms of support can be provided to help you stop smoking.

We also offer ongoing support and assistance after you leave Calvary.

Find out more from the SA Health website.

You have a right to receive safe and high-quality health services. Our Clinical Safety and Quality is benchmarked against National Clinical Safety and Quality Standards.

To find out how our hospital performs against national standards, visit our Clincial Quality and Safety page.

Safety can also start with you. Did you know falls are the second leading cause of accidental injury and death worldwide?

To find out more download Stay Safe – Important Information about Falls (2MB)

Calvary protects and promotes the rights of each person receiving care.

We take any suspected breach of privacy very seriously. If you believe your personal information has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Calvary Privacy Policy, you can make a complaint.

PRIVACY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

You have a right to access your personal information, subject to some exceptions allowed by law, and to request a change to your information if you consider it inaccurate.

If you’d like to access your personal information or medical records please contact the Calvary Adelaide Hospital Health Information Manager.

If your information has been archived, we may charge a fee for searching for and providing access to your information.

Accessing Medical Records request form

Return your completed form to the Patient Services Manager by fax to 08 8405 3498 or by post to:

Medical Records Department
Calvary Wakefield Hospital
120 Angus St
Adelaide SA 5000

You won’t be discharged from Calvary Adelaide Hospital until it’s safe for you to leave. Your safety will be assessed against:

  • Your condition
  • The availability of personal and social support
  • Your residential situation
  • Your mobility
  • Access to communications if an emergency arises

Planning your discharge

Before your planned admission, or as soon as possible after an emergency admission, your care team will talk to you about a planned discharge date.

When you’re discharged you will be provided with a Formal Discharge Summary, and your care team will give you information about follow-up appointments with your General Practitioner or Specialist.

We’ll give you a short-term supply of any new medications prescribed by Calvary.

If you have a serious illness or major surgery, you’ll receive a call from the Discharge Planning Team within two weeks of returning home. We’ll check on your recovery and discuss any concerns you have about your health.

1. Who is picking you up from hospital?

On your discharge day you’ll need to arrange to be picked up by a family member or friend before 10am.
Please let us know so we can discuss alternative options, including Calvary Community Care Hospital to Home.

2. Have you made a follow-up appointment with your Doctor?

You need to make a follow up appointment with your Doctor as advised by your care team.

3. Have you discussed your medication?

Please make sure you have discussed your discharge medication with your care team. A medication review will be arranged if necessary.

After coming home from hospital you may have new medications to take. Please follow the instructions carefully to avoid making any mistakes with your medication. Visit NPS Medicinewise for more information, or call your GP to discuss your medications.

4. Do you need care when you get home?

Calvary Community Care can help discharged patients with transport home, cooking, grocery shopping, dressing, showering and household tasks.

Community Care can also provide 24 hour personal care, respite care, home maintenance and modification and safety products linked to 24/7 monitoring.

There may be a charge for Calvary Community Care services, or they may be provided partially or completely under a government assistance package.

HOSPITAL TO HOME

If you have any compliments, complaints or suggestions, please let us know so we can improve our service.

You can do this by:

Feedback