Staying safe and well in our hospital

Our aim is to provide you with the safest possible health care. However, there are still risks when you spend time in hospital. The risks might include:

infection
misuse of medicines
falling and injuring yourself
sores on your skin from sitting or lying in the same position.

You and your family or carer can help prevent these risks. Watch this video to find out how we can work together to keep you safe in hospital.

Infection prevention and control, and hand hygiene

Patients, visitors and staff have a major role in preventing the transfer of infection.

What can you do to reduce the spread of infection?

Tell our staff if you have had any overseas healthcare contact (i.e. clinic, hospital, GP, nursing home) in the last 12 months, if you have respiratory symptoms, vomiting or diarrhoea, chronic or open wounds
Tell our staff if you have recently been unwell with respiratory symptoms, a rash and a fever (temperature above 38C)
When your hands are visibly dirty wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, changing a nappy, blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
When you enter and leave the hospital or clinic area, clean your hands with an alcohol hand rub
Follow hospital staff direction on preventing infection in the ward or unit you are visiting
Do not visit people in hospital if you are sick with a contagious illness or respiratory symptoms such as COVID-19, Influenza, reported vomiting and diarrhoea, chickenpox

Surgical mask are recommended for visitors to Prince of Wales Hospital and are provided at the entrances to the hospital and high risk units ie: Haematology/Oncology units, Dialysis and Aged Care units.

If you are not certain about whether you should be visiting someone in hospital, please ask one of our staff before you arrive.

Using medicines safely in hospital

While you are in hospital you must only take or use medicines that have been given to you by the hospital staff.
While it might seem easier or helpful to handle your own medicines, this is how accidents can happen. Allowing us to manage your medicines during your stay helps us keep you safe.

Please read this important information about using medicines safely in our hospital.

If you are worried your condition is getting worse

When you are in our Hospital, please tell us if you are worried about a change in your condition. If you are a visitor and notice a change in the condition of the person who is sick and in our care, please also tell us.

To share your concerns with us, please speak to a nurse or doctor and explain what you are worried about. If you remain worried, we have a phone number you can call. Please ask our staff for the number you can call.

You may see posters in our Hospital with this information on them. This is called our REACH program.

We ask you to REACH out to us with your concerns because you and your visitors might notice changes in your condition before we do. Together we can care for you.

Fire and Emergencies

Our staff are fully trained in emergency procedures. In the event of an emergency, you should stay in or by your bed until told otherwise by one of our staff. In the case of fire, do not use the lifts. Please remain calm and stay within the ward until the nurse in charge guides you to the closest evacuation area.