Patient Information Guide - Queensland Health

The Prince Charles Hospital 

Patient Information Guide 

Our vision Leaders in health – partners for life 

Please do not remove this folder 

from the bedside 

Our mission Promoting a healthier Queensland 

The Prince Charles Hospital Rode Road, Chermside Qld 4032 

Telephone: 07 3139 4000 • www.health.qld.gov.au/tpch

Welcome 

Welcome 

The staff of The Prince Charles Hospital 

Health Service District warmly welcome 

you to the Hospital. Our staff are 

committed to giving you the highest 

possible standard of care and to 

ensuring your stay is as comfortable 

as possible. This Guide will help you 

understand the hospital and the services 

available to you during your stay here. 

If you require any assistance or more 

information, please ask our staff. 

They are here to help you. 

The Prince Charles Hospital is committed 

to improving its service and is fully 

accredited by the Australian Council on 

Healthcare Standards. We value your 

comments and feedback, as these allow 

us to improve our service. 

A feedback form is located in this folder 

and we encourage you to complete this 

form and return it to us. 


Health Service District – Executive team 


The Prince Charles Hospital

The Prince Charles Hospital Health Service District 

The Prince Charles Hospital Health Service District is one of Queensland Health’s 38 Health Service Districts, 

providing public hospital and health services to the Queensland community. 

Our services 


provides the following programs: 

� Acute (hospital based) 

� Aged and Disability Services 

� Community Services. 

� Geriatric and Rehabilitation 

� Mental Health. 

Acute Program 

Cardiology Program 

Comprises all cardiac (heart) medical wards 

including: 

� Cardiac Investigations Unit (CIU) 

� Children’s Ward 

� Coronary Care Unit (CCU) 

� Heart Transplant Services 

� Heart Failure Services 

� Wards 1A and 1B. 

Thoracic (lung) and Clinical Support Program 

Comprises all respiratory medical wards 

and support services including: 

� Biomedical Research 

� Central Sterilising Department 

� Infection Control 

� Library 

� Outpatients Department (OPD) and Elective 

Preadmission Clinic (EPAC) 

� Pharmacy 

� Product Resources 

� Respiratory Investigations 

� Wards 1C, 1D, 1E 

� Wound Management. 

Critical Care and Surgical Program 

Comprises all Critical Care and Surgical wards 

including: 

� Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) 

� Day Procedure Unit 

� Emergency Department 

� General Intensive Care Unit (GICU) 

� Main Operating Theatre 

� Wards 2A, 2B and 2C. 



Community Services Program 

� Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) 

� Alcohol and drug services 

� Community health 

� Health services information line 

� Home help 

� Home and Community Care (HACC) 

resource unit 

�� Indigenous health unit 

�� Medical aids subsidy scheme 

�� Palliative care 

�� Sexual health clinic 

Geriatric and Rehabilitation Program 

�� Acute dementia 

�� Acute geriatric assessment and management 

�� Day rehabilitation ward 

�� Extended care Units 1 and 2. 

�� Geriatric liaison service 

Mental Health Program 

Comprises a 60-bed acute inpatient facility 

and community teams including: 

�� Medium Secure Unit 

�� Mental Health East and West Wing 

�� Mental Health Extended Care 

�� Mobile Intensive Support Team 

�� Mobile Assessment Team. 

Aged and Disability Services Program 

Comprises the following services: 

�� Ashworth House Nursing Home, Zillmere 

�� Eventide Nursing Home, Sandgate 

�� Jacana Acquired Brain Injury Centre, Bald Hills 

and Sandgate.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islanders liaison service 

The Prince Charles Hospital campus has an 

Indigenous Liaison Officer available to answer any 

questions that you or your family may have about 

your care, treatment, the hospital or any assistance 

you may need after you are discharged. If you 

would like to speak to the Indigenous Liaison 

Officer please ask your nurse or they can be 

contacted via telephone on 3139 5062. 

Accommodation for relatives 

There are a number of hotels and motels located 

in the local area. If you require further information 

hotel and motel brochures are available from the 

main reception desk in the foyer of the hospital 

or at the reception desk in the ward areas. 

Accommodation is arranged for parents who 

have children admitted in the Children ward. 

Admission details 

Please notify the hospital if there has been any 

changes to your details e.g. address, telephone 

number, general practitioner, health insurance 

details or next-of-kin. 

Advanced health directive 

An Advanced Health Directive is a document in 

which you give general instructions about your 

future health care. Medical staff can refer to it if 

you become too ill to make decisions for yourself. 

Please advise nursing and medical staff if you have 

an Advanced Health Directive and provide 

a copy for your chart. 

At times a patient may not be able to provide this 

information. If a relative or carer is aware of the 

existence of an Advanced Health Directive or Power 

of Attorney please inform the nursing and medical 

staff. If you would like more information or would 

like to make an Advanced Health Directive please 

discuss this with your local general practitioner. 

You must be over 18 years of age to make an 

Advance Health Directive. 

It is also important that a person acting as Power of 

Attorney for your health matters informs the 

medical or nursing staff of their status. 

Alcohol and drugs 

Alcohol and illicit drugs can interfere with your 

medical treatment and are not permitted in the 

hospital. A counselor is available if you would like 

to talk to someone about your alcohol or drug use. 

If you are using any of these substances please 

inform your doctor or nurse. 

Allergies 

If you are allergic to anything please notify 

the nursing and medical staff immediately. 

Allied health 

The term ‘allied health’ refers to a group of 

professional staff who provide a range of highly 

skilled services to both patients and their carers. 

They include physiotherapists, social workers, 

occupational therapists, speech therapists, 

dieticians, psychologists, pharmacists, 

radiographers and podiatrists. 

Alternative medicines 

Alternative medicines such as vitamins and 

minerals, and herbal therapies can affect or 

counteract other traditional medicines. Please 

notify your doctor if you are currently taking 

any of these medicines. 

Ambulance 

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) 

can only bring you into hospital in emergency 

situations or, if your local doctor telephones them. 

Please remember when you are discharged from 

hospital you will need to organise your own 

transport home. If your condition requires the 

attention of trained ambulance officers the hospital 

doctor may authorise transport home via 

ambulance. If you have any questions regarding 

your transport home after admission to The Prince 

Charles Hospital please ask your nurse. 

Banking services 

An automatic teller machine that accepts most 

cards is located in the main foyer of the hospital. 

EFTPOS is available at the Breeze Café but some 

conditions do apply. Branches of most major banks 

are located at Chermside shopping centre or along 

Gympie Road at Chermside. 



Bed allocation 

The bed that you are allocated depends on how sick 

you are or what type of illness you have. Your bed 

allocation may change during your stay. This is the 

case whether you are a public or private patient. 

Bus services 

The Brisbane City Council provides a bus service – 

No.354 to the main entrance of the hospital, linking 

the hospital with Chermside and Brookside shopping 

centres. Bus timetables are available on the 

information stand in the ground floor waiting 

area near the main reception area. 

For more information on other bus services, please 

contact Transinfo on 13 1230. 

Chapel 

The hospital chapel is located on the ground floor. 

Services are held regularly and all denominations 

are welcome. The palliative care unit also has a small 

chapel. 

Compliments and complaints 

Your feedback is important to us. Patients who 

have any questions or concerns regarding their care 

or service provided should ask staff for assistance. 

Problems can normally be resolved immediately. 

However, if you require further assistance, please 

contact the District Liaison Officer on 3139 4479. 

The officer will provide information, answer your 

questions, discuss your suggestions and investigate 

complaints. The Nurse Unit Manager (Head Nurse) 

can also assist you. 

Diabetes service 

A community diabetes care service provides 

education and support to enable people to actively 

participate in the management of their condition and 

make safe choices about their health and well being. 

The diabetes educator is available for outpatients 

who have specific diabetes management concerns. 

Please ask your nurse about this service. This service 

can be contacted on 3139 4751. 



Disabled facilities – toilets 

and parking 

Disabled toilets and designated parking areas 

are available throughout the hospital campus. 

Disabled parking is on the ground floor of the 

multi-storey carpark, with ramp access to the main 

hospital building and Private Practice Clinic. Spaces 

are also allocated adjacent to the Extended Care, 

Palliative Care and Day Procedure facilities. 

Discharge 

Discharge planning will commence on the day 

of your admission, and you and your family are 

involved in this planning. It is our aim for patients 

to be discharge by midday on the day of discharge. 

Patients are asked to consider this when planning 

their transport home. 

Please check with your nurse to confirm your 

discharge time. If you can not be collected by this 

time you may be discharged to the transit lounge, 

located on the ground floor, to wait for your 

transport home. You will need to take your private 

x-rays, any items in trust, travel documents, 

information for community services and discharge 

medications with you. Please remember to return 

the key to your bedside drawer. 

If you have any special needs when you return 

home, please discuss these with your doctor 

or nurse prior to your discharge. A discharge 

summary will be sent to your nominated General 

Practitioner (GP) and a copy also given to you. 

This will contain relevant information regarding 

your stay at The Prince Charles Hospital. 

You may also be given, or sent, an Outpatient 

or Private Practice Clinic appointment following 

your discharge. It is important that this 

appointment is kept. 

Emergency department 

The Prince Charles Hospital Emergency Department 

provides emergency care to the community. As the 

Hospital is a specialised hospital, most treatment 

in the Emergency Department is provided to people 

with heart and lung conditions. However, all people 

who present to the department will be assessed, 

stabilised and referred or transferred to other 

hospitals if required.

Enduring Power of Attorney 

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal agreement 

giving someone else the power to make decisions 

on your behalf. ‘Enduring’ simply means that the 

power continues even if you lose the capacity to 

make decisions for yourself. There are two types, 

one for financial decisions and one relating to 

decisions about your medical treatment. You can 

give an Enduring Power of Attorney to anyone by 

filling out an approved form and having it signed 

by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of 

Declarations, lawyer or notary public. Your 

nominated attorney will be required to complete 

the acceptance section. If you need advice please 

consult your solicitor. 

Electrical appliances 

You are not permitted to use personal electrical 

appliances e.g. electric razors, radio/CD players, 

etc. while in the hospital. On the rare occasion 

this equipment is required, all equipment must 

be checked by the hospital engineering staff before 

use. This is to ensure your safety and that of other 

patients and staff. Please ask your ward staff if you 

require any further information. 

Fees and charges 

On or before admission, patients must choose to 

be treated as a public or private shared patient by 

completing a form. 

Public patients 

�� receive no accounts for their treatment or 

accommodation, unless staying for more than 

35 days without an acute care certificate 

�� receive medical treatment by hospital 

allocated staff 

�� are accommodated in public ward beds 

�� are subject to public waiting lists 

Private shared patients 

�� have the doctor of their choice 

�� are subject to minimal waiting times 

for admission 

�� are charged for both treatment and 

accommodation 

Accommodation charges are set under the Health 

Services Act and are subject to change without 

notice. Professional, prosthesis and medical charges 

are set by your service providers and may vary from 

provider to provider. For information on charges for 

hospital accommodation, please contact our Finance 

Department on 3139 4207. For information on 

charges for professional and medical services please 

contact your doctor or our Private Practice Clinic 

on 3139 4207. 

Sometimes patients are required to have additional 

investigations such as dental treatment or 

optometry, which are not covered by the hospital. 

If you have any questions about this, please ask 

the medical or nursing staff. 

Fire emergency 

Each ward at The Prince Charles Hospital has staff 

who are trained to deal with fire emergencies. In the 

event of an emergency – stay calm and please follow 

staff directions at all times. 

Flowers 

Flowers are welcome. Restrictions do apply in 

specialised areas such as the Intensive Care and 

Coronary Care Units. Please check with nursing staff. 

Flowers can be purchased from the Breeze Café, 

the hospital’s main food outlet. 

Food services 

The Hospital’s menu system operates one day 

ahead of delivery. For example, menus completed on 

Monday are for Tuesday’s meals. Your menu will be 

delivered to you and collected during the day. New 

admissions will receive a standard meal until their 

personal menu is collected for the following day. 

Completing the menu 

Please use the lead pencil provided to filling the 

appropriate ‘bubble’ against your selection. If you 

have any special dietary requirements dietitians 

and speech therapists are available for consultation. 

If you are transferred to another ward Food Services 

will attempt to transfer your completed menu to your 

new location. If you have any questions about your 

food please ask your nurse or food service assistant. 



Meal times 

Meal times vary depending on the ward or unit 

you are in. As a guide breakfast is served from 

7am, lunch from 12pm and dinner from 5pm. 

Morning tea is served from 10am and afternoon 

tea from 2pm. 

Patient trolley service 

A patient trolley service is operated daily with 

assorted food, sweets, phone cards, magazines 

and newspapers for purchase. 

Vending machines 

Cold drinks, snacks and confectionary are available 

from vending machines outside the Breeze Café. 

Breeze Café and shop 

The Breeze Café and shop is located on the ground 

floor adjacent to the Main Acute Building. The Café 

serves hot and cold meals, sandwiches, drinks and 

snacks. A selection of toiletries, flowers, stamps, 

phone cards, and magazines are also available 

from the shop. Funds from the Breeze Café go to 

The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation which 

supports vital medical research. 

Hours of service (subject to change) 

The Breeze Café and shop is open from 7am 

to 6.30pm everyday (except Christmas Day). 

Health promotion – taking 

responsibility for your own health 

Queensland Health supports promoting a healthier 

Queensland. 

The hospital has a philosophy of health promotion 

for staff, patients and relatives. Please ask the staff 

for advice about how you can ensure a healthy 

lifestyle for you and your family. Interested patient 

and their relatives can take advantage of hospital 

programs on cardiac and respiratory rehabilitation. 

Please help yourself to information pamphlets 

at the reception areas. Alternatively there is an 

education channel on Channel ‘O’ of your television 

provided for you and your family to assist you 

in having a healthier life and in supporting your 

preparation for discharge. This service is free 

and is supported by The Prince Charles Hospital 

Foundation. Your nurse or doctor may assist you 

in the session relevant to you and your family. 



Infection control 

The hospital takes the protection and safety 

of its patients, staff and visitors very seriously. 

Infection control information is displayed 

throughout the hospital. If you have any questions 

regarding infection control please ask the nursing 

staff. 

Note: All visitors must wash their hands before and 

after visiting the ward areas. 

Information – general 

Administration staff are located at most ward area 

reception desks and the main reception desk at the 

entrance of the hospital to answer any queries. You 

can also call 5888 on your bedside phone to speak 

with the Manager of Front of House Services. If you 

require more information on any aspect of your care 

or facilities available, please speak with your nurse, 

doctor or allied health professional. 

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 

The Prince Charles Hospital has two ICUs. 

The Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) 

located on Level 2 of the Main Acute Building, 

manages both children and adults after cardiac 

surgery. 

The General Intensive Care Unit (GICU) is located 

on Level 1 and manages adult patients with 

complex cardiac and thoracic medical and surgical 

problems. 

Interpreter services 

Interpreter services are available for non-English 

speaking and hearing impaired patients. Please 

discuss this with the nurse caring for you. 

Laundry 

There is a washing machine on each floor of the 

Main Acute Building for limited personal use. 

Please follow the instructions on use and care 

of the machine. 

Leaving the ward area 

Please always tell the nurse or ward staff caring 

for you before leaving the ward area.

Lounge rooms 

Each ward area has a patient lounge room for your 

comfort. We would appreciate if you could please 

keep these areas neat and tidy. 

Mail 

Mail is delivered daily, Monday to Friday. Mail 

should be addressed as followed: 

Name 

Ward 

c/o The Prince Charles Hospital 

Rode Rd 

Chermside Qld 4032 

Stamps can be purchased from the Breeze Café 

or patient service trolley. Mail can be posted in 

the post box located at the front entrance of the 

hospital or can be given to ward staff (with correct 

postage). 

Maps 

Maps of the hospital campus are located at the 

front of this guide. 

Media 

The Hospital has a media policy which indicates 

that all media inquiries that come to the Hospital 

must be handled through the Public Affairs Unit. 

This includes all inquiries from television, 

newspaper and radio stations. If you would like 

to invite media into the Hospital to speak with you 

or a family member at the hospital, this must be 

arranged through the Public Affairs Unit. The Public 

Affairs Unit can also provide you with advice if the 

media contacts you during your stay in hospital. 

If you would like to contact the Public Affairs Unit, 

please ask the nursing staff in your ward to ring 

extension 4382. 

Medical certificates 

Medical certificates are available on request from 

your doctor. 

Medical records 

Your medical records are strictly confidential and 

are only accessed by professional staff providing 

your care. There is a process in place if you want 

to see your medical records. Please ask your 

doctor. 

Medications 

Any medications brought into hospital are locked 

in the top draw of your bedside locker. Please 

remember to take these medications home with 

you on discharge. 

�� On discharge public patients will be provided 

with 5 days supply of medication. 

It is important that you return to your General 

Practitioner (GP) before your medications run 

out, so they can review your medications and 

provide you with further prescriptions. 

�� On discharge, private patients may be provided 

with a prescription by their doctor 

to take to a pharmacy of their choice. 

�� Prior to leaving hospital it is important that 

you understand how and when to take your 

medications, and their side effects. If you have 

any questions please ask your doctor, nurse 

or pharmacist. You can also ring the hospital 

pharmacist on 3139 4107 after you are 

discharged if you have any questions or 

alternatively ring your General Practitioner (GP). 

Mobile phones 

Mobile phones are not to be used within the 

hospital buildings, as they can interfere with 

sensitive medical equipment. 

Hospital staff are issued with cordless phones 

that do not interfere with sensitive equipment. 

Multicultural services 

A multicultural resource officer is available to assist 

you if you have any specific religious or cultural 

needs. The officer can be paged through switch 

by dialing 9, or by telephoning 3139 4479. 

Newspapers and magazines 

Newspapers can be purchased from the Breeze 

Café and the patient trolley service. Charlies 

Angels, the hospital’s volunteer service also 

provide a mobile trolley service for lending 

magazines and other reading material. 

Noise 

Please consider other patients and keep noise 

to a minimum. Ear pieces are available for 

televisions and radios/CD players, and we 

encourage you to use them. 



Nurse call system 

Patients in the Main Acute Building should call 

for nursing assistance by pressing the green 

‘call’ button once, located on the entertainment 

handset. Alternatively you can use the green 

call panel on the walls in the bedrooms, showers, 

toilets or lounge areas. 

Patients in the Palliative Care Unit and Extended 

Care Units should press the white ‘call’ button once. 

The call button is attached to a white cord that plugs 

into the bedside panel. 

Please do not let children press these buttons. 

Nutrition and dietetics 

Hospital dietitians are available to discuss special 

diet requirements with you and your family at the 

request of your doctor. 

Occupational therapy 

Occupational therapists are a valued member of 

the allied health team. They can provide assistance 

to help you perform everyday tasks, both at home 

and in your work environment. They advise on 

practical ways to modify your lifestyle to better 

manage your injury or illness. If you require assistance 

in this area please let your doctor know, as a doctor’s 

referral is required for this service. 

Organ and tissue donation 

Organ and tissue donation is a personal choice 

and it is important that you discuss your intentions 

with your family. You can register your intention to 

donate after your death on the Australian Organ 

Donor Register. For information about registering 

your decision to donate you can call the free number 

on 1800 777 203 or visit any Medicare office. For 

more information you can call Queenslanders Donate 

on 3240 2350. 

Outpatients 

If you require review following discharge, an 

appointment will be given to you prior to leaving, 

or will be posted out to you within one week. It is 

important that you keep this appointment. If you 

are unable to attend this appointment please contact 

the outpatients department to cancel or reschedule 

your appointment. The outpatients department is 

located on the ground floor of the hospital’s Main 

Acute Building. 



Pacemakers 

It is important that you notify your allied health 

professionals that you have a pacemaker as some 

electrical equipment used in these areas may 

affect your pacemaker. 

Parking 

Visitor and patient parking is available undercover 

in the multi-storey carpark located adjacent to the 

main entrance of the hospital. Parking fees apply. 

A drop off / pick up area is available at the front 

entrance of the Main Acute Building. The parking 

bays at the front of the hospital are for emergency 

parking only. 

Parking for the Palliative Care and Extended Care 

Units is located at the back of the hospital adjacent 

to these facilities. Parking fees apply to this carpark 

and correct change is required. 

Pastoral care and chaplaincy 

Pastoral carers are available to all patients, and 

their family and friends. Denominational chaplains 

may be called by your nurse, at any time. Gideon 

Bibles are located in the bedside lockers. If you 

have any special cultural needs please contact 

your nurse. 

Patient election 

Every patient has the opportunity to choose or elect 

to be treated as either a public or private patient 

upon admission. Your choice will affect which 

doctor treats you while you are in hospital and the 

costs, if any, that you will incur. If you would like 

more information please contact your ward 

receptionist or phone patient services on 

extension 4799. 

Patient enquiries 

For patient enquiries please telephone 3139 4799. 

Patient feedback 

Please provide us feedback on all aspects of the 

care and service that you received by completing 

the form provided in back of this folder. Please 

return the form in the envelope provided.

Patient handling 

To provide care for our patients and also prevent 

injury to our staff we have implemented ‘Safe 

Manual Handling Procedures’. The policy states 

that “the manual lifting of patients is eliminated 

in all but exceptional or life threatening situations.” 

(Royal College of Nursing, 1996, Code of Practice 

for Manual Handling, London as cited in Patient 

Manual Handling Guidelines, (2001), Queensland 

Health. Hospital staff use specific aids including 

hoists/slings, slide sheets and walking belts to 

move, transfer or position patients. If you have 

any queries regarding this practice please speak 

to your nurse. 

Patient identification bracelet 

We ask that you wear your patient identification 

bracelet during your hospital stay. Patients with 

known allergies will wear a red bracelet. Patients 

who are identified as having a risk of falling will 

wear a blue bracelet. 

Payment 

Public patients 

Public patients do not pay for accommodation 

or services. 

Private patients – Accommodation 

�� Uninsured patients are requested to pay a 

deposit of up to 7 days accommodation charge 

on or before admission. For stays over 7 days, 

weekly payment in advance is required. 

�� Insured patients (those with private health 

cover) can arrange to have their hospital 

accommodation account submitted directly 

to their health fund. Patients who wish to do 

so should provide proof of membership and 

membership details and sign an Assignment 

of Benefit form on or before admission. 

Patients who do not have insurance to cover the 

total cost of hospitalisation are required to pay the 

shortfall component on or before admission. The 

component could be due to and excess on your 

policy, a pre-existing condition not covered by your 

policy or the treatment occurring within the health 

fund’s qualifying period. For details of benefits 

payable by your insurer contact your health fund. 

The hospital accepts payment by cash, cheque 

or major credit cards. For information on payment 

for hospital accommodation please contact our 

Finance Department on 3139 4207. 

Other charges 

Private patients receive separate accounts for 

medical and professional services, and for some 

tests such as medical imaging and pathology. 

Details on the estimated level of charges can be 

obtained from your doctor or the Manager of the 

Private Practice Clinic on 3139 4207. 

Benefits are payable by Medicare and, in some 

cases, payment gaps may be met by your insurer. 

Short payments for any reason will be payable 

by the patient. The Private Practice Clinic accepts 

payment by cash, cheque, EFTPOS and major credit 

cards. 

For details on benefits payable by your insurer you 

will need to contact your health fund. 

Personal items 

No personal toiletries or tissues are provided by 

the hospital. It is therefore your responsibility to 

provide these items. The hospital does provide 

hospital gowns, towels and washers for use while 

you are an inpatient. 

Physiotherapy 

Physiotherapists provide pre and post-operative 

management for cardiothoracic (heart-lung) and 

orthopaedic surgical patients. They also provide 

clinical services and rehabilitation for cardiac 

and thoracic medical patients. 

Private/share accommodation 

Patients are allocated rooms according to the type 

of care you need, with single rooms being allocated 

to patients who require specific types of care. Your 

room allocation may change and you may be 

moved to a shared room during your stay at The 

Prince Charles Hospital. 



Research and The Prince Charles 

Hospital Foundation 

The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation was 

established in 1986 with the aim of raising funds 

and generating community support, to ensure the 

hospital continues to be a world class facility for 

treatment and research. 

The Foundation raises money to create research 

facilities, supports research projects and funds 

research personnel. There is a major focus on 

cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well 

as psychiatry, geriatrics and orthopaedics. 

If you would like to donate to The Prince Charles 

Hospital Foundation the office is located on Level 1 

of the Administration Building and is open 9am to 

5pm Monday to Friday. Please phone 3139 4636 for 

more information. A donation envelope is available 

in all ward areas. 

Security 

The hospital [provides a 24-hour security service 

throughout the campus. The Duty Security Officer 

can be contacted on 31394833. 

Shopping centres 

There is a major shopping centre located at the 

corner of Hamilton Road and Gympie Road at 

Chermside. This shopping centre has a number 

of banks, large department stores and specialty 

shops. There is also a smaller shopping centre 

located at the corner of Rode Road and Appleby 

Road at Chermside. This centre has a supermarket, 

pharmacy, a post office and a number of specialty 

shops. 

Smoking policy 

The Prince Charles Hospital supports a smoke free 

environment. 

Smoking is not permitted in hospital buildings 

or at the front entrance to the hospital. 

Please respect the signs that indicate a ‘Smoke Free 

Zone’. Smoking is only permitted in the designated 

gazebos – adjacent to the Breeze Café and next to 

the multistory carpark at the Entrance. Brochures 

and support are available to assist you to give up 

smoking. Please speak with your nurse if you 

require any further information. 



Social work 

Social workers provide counseling, information 

and support, and can help you with financial 

entitlements, accommodation, access to support 

networks and with planning for future care. 

A social worker is available for all patients and their 

families. Please ask your nurse to contact the social 

worker if you require assistance in this area. 

Speech pathology 

Speech pathologists assess and treat speech 

and swallowing disorders. A medical referral is 

required for this service. 

Staff identification 

All staff members of The Prince Charles Hospital 

are required to wear an official photo identification 

card detailing their name and position. 

As a patient, you have the right to ask a staff 

member to show their identification card. 

Support groups 

Please see your nurse if you would like more 

information on any of the support groups visiting 

our hospital. Some of our specialty services have 

support groups. Some of these include: 

Heart Patient Support Association 

(HeartSupp) 

HeartSupp members are volunteer visitors who 

have been patients in this hospital and now 

regularly visit patients. HeartSupp provides 

a non-medical support service that complements 

the medical and educational services of the Cardiac 

Surgical Unit at The Prince Charles Hospital. 

Heart to Heart Cardiac Support Group 

Heart to Heart is a support group for families of 

children who have a heart condition. The groups 

aims to provide support, friendship and a listening 

ear, if needed. 

Taxi services 

Free taxi phones are located in the foyer of the 

hospital. A taxi rank is located adjacent to the 

Allied Health entrance of the Main Acute Building 

at the front of the hospital. Visitors to mental 

health, extended care and the palliative care units 

can ask reception staff for assistance.

Telephones 

Bedside phones 

Bedside telephones are installed at most bedsides 

in the Main Acute Building. Depending on your 

condition incoming calls will be put through to the 

bedside phone between 8am to 8pm. 

Patients cannot be phoned directly. Relatives 

and visitors calling patients who have bedside 

phones should telephone 3139 4799 and ask 

for the patient by name. 

To make external phone calls, patients must 

purchase a Telstra Phoneaway Card from the 

Breeze Café or from the Phoneaway Card 

dispensers on the first and second floor of the 

Main Acute Building. To use the Phoneaway Card 

dial 0 18933 from your bedside phone and follow 

the voice prompts. 

The Telstra Homelink service is also available if 

you have this service on your home phone number. 

Dial 0 1800 911 548 and follow the voice prompts. 

The cost of the call is debited to your home phone 

number. If you have a Telstra Telecard you can 

access the service by dialing 0 18918. 

Public phones 

Public phones are located on the Ground Floor in 

the lobby, the rehabilitation/allied health area, and 

the Day Hospital. 

Television hire 

A patient television hire service is available. Please 

ask your nurse or ward staff for more information. 

Transit lounge 

The transit lounge is for: 

�� patients who have been discharged from 

ward areas and are awaiting transport home 

�� outpatients awaiting ambulance transport 

�� patients who have been admitted and are 

awaiting bed availability 

�� emergency room patients awaiting pathology 

results and/or ambulance transport. 

The transit lounge is staffed by a registered nurse 

from 8.30am to 4.00pm. It is located on the ground 

floor near the Emergency Department. Please ask 

the nurse if you have any questions regarding this 

service. 

Uniforms 

Medical Officers 

Consultants, Registrars and Resident Medical 

Officers wear regular clothing or business attire. 

Some medical officers will wear a white coat. 

Nurses 

The Executive District Director of Nursing and 

Program Nursing Directors wear civilian clothing. 

Level 3 and 4: Nurse Unit Managers and Clinical 

Nurse Consultants. Female nurses wear a navy blue 

skirt/dress/pant and a printed shirt with the 

corporate print or civilian clothing. Males wear navy 

blue pants/shorts and a blue shirt or civilian 

clothing. 

Level 2, 1 and Enrolled Nurses: Nurses who provide 

bedside care to you. Female nurses wear navy blue 

pants/skirt/shorts and printed shirt with the 

corporate print. Males wear navy blue pants/shorts 

and a blue or blue/white checked shirt. 

Assistants in Nursing wear navy blue skirt/pants/ 

shorts and a light blue shirt with a small strip of 

the corporate print across the top of their pocket. 

Wardspersons 

Wardspeople wear dark green pants/shorts 

and a green and white checked shirt. 

Catering and Food Service Officers 

Catering and Food Services Officers wear dark 

green culottes/trousers/skirt and a white printed 

shirt. 

Administration Staff 

Administration staff do not have a mandatory 

uniform, but many choose to wear tan or navy 

pants/skirt and a navy or white top. 

Values 

We ask that you join us in valuing our staff. Please 

respect staff, other patients and visitors. The staff 

of The Prince Charles Hospital and Health Service 

District aim to sustain your trust and value 

professionalism, teamwork, performance 

accountability, quality and recognition. 



Valuables 

Valuables and large sums of money should not 

be bought into hospital. 

If required, valuables can be place in the hospital 

Trust Office. This can be arranged through your nurse. 

If valuables are placed in trust it is preferred that 

valuables are returned during normal business hours 

(Monday to Friday: 9am – 12.30pm and 1pm – 4pm). 

If money is placed in the Trust Office it will be returned 

to you in the form of a cheque. Upon request up to 

$200 cash can be returned to you and the balance 

in the form of a cheque. 

A lockable draw to keep your belongings is available 

in most bedside lockers. Please ask your nurse for 

the key and don’t forget to return it on discharge. 

The hospital cannot accept responsibility for any loss 

or damage to personal property kept at the bedside. 

Veterans 

The Prince Charles Hospital is pleased to be involved 

in the Veterans Hospital Visiting Scheme. A brochure 

on the service is available from ward staff. 

Patients with the Department of Veteran Affairs 

(DVA) who have a ‘Gold Card’ can elect to be admitted 

as a private shared patient. All costs incurred with 

treatment, including selecting your own doctor, are 

covered by DVA. If you have any questions relating 

to health cover with DVA please contact the Manager, 

Front of House Services on 3139 5888. 

Visitors and visiting hours 

Visitors are welcome and are an important part 

of your support during hospital. Visiting hours are 

flexible however prior to 10am patients may have 

procedures planned and visitors may be asked to wait 

in the waiting areas while that occurs. Visitors are 

reminded to consider the needs of other patients in 

the room. Visitors may be asked to leave the ward for 

short periods during medical and nursing procedures 

and in emergency situations. If visitors wish to visit 

during other times please discuss this with your nurse. 

Children are welcome to visit however children under 

12 years of age must be supervised by an adult at all 

times. 



Volunteers – Charlies Angels 

The Prince Charles Hospital volunteer group, also 

known as ‘Charlies Angels,’ are volunteers who 

provide support to you and your family. ‘Charlies 

Angels’ are easily identified as they wear a bright 

yellow shirt. Charlies Angels can be contacted by 

ringing 5297 on your bedside phone. 

Waiting areas 

Waiting areas are available on Level 1 and Level 2 

at the reception areas. There are small waiting 

areas outside the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, 

General Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care. 

Please be mindful of other visitors in these areas. 

X-ray 

The X-ray department provides a range of services. 

If you are pregnant please notify your doctor or 

nurse prior to having an x-ray. Please take any 

private x-rays home with you, on discharge. 

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Designated 

Smoking 

Area 

No Smoking Policy 

No Smoking Policy 

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The Prince Charles Hospital buildings 

and grounds are a smoke free 

Health Service and Workplace. 

Recent legislation bans smoking in the 

Buildings and Grounds of the campus. (1) 

(1) Health Services Act Section 51.(1): A person must not smoke on 

health services land other than in a designated smoking area. 

Designated areas where smoking 

is permitted have been provided 

and they are: 

� in the GAZEBO adjacent to the 

Multistorey Car Park 

� in the GAZEBO adjacent to the 

Breeze Café 

Please ensure smoking 

is restricted to these 

designated areas. 

We welcome your assistance in advising your visitors of our non-smoking policy.

TV Education Channel Program – Channel ‘O’ 

“Healthier Lifestyle” – Changes for Everyone 

Start Time Title 

9.00 am Research Foundation 


9.01 am Listen To Your Heart 

Caring for your heart. Heart Foundation 

9.11 am Angioplasty + Stent. 

A guide for patients and their families 

Coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease 


9.26 am Implantable Cardiac Device 

Explanation tape on implantable cardiac device 


9.54 am Pacemakers 

Explanation tape on pacemakers 


10.12 am Helping You Understand Heart Failure 

Explanation tape on heart failure 


10.27 am Diabetes 

Diabetes management 

10.52 am How To Take Your Pulmozyme 

Explanation tape on pulmozyme 


11.01 am Asthma Care 

Explanation tape on asthma care 

11.16 am How To Use Inhaled Respiratory Medication Devices 

Explanation tape on inhaled respiratory medication 

devices 

11.26 am Spiriva Handihaler 

Training video for spiriva handihaler 


11.33 am Home Oxygen Concentrators 

Explanation tape on home oxygen concentrators 


11.49 am Weigh Management 

Dietary advice 


12.25 pm Eating For Health 

An easy guide for shopping and cooking low-fat meals 

12.43 pm Staying Positive 

by Patricia Cameron-Hill, Dr Shayne Yates 

1.18 pm Research Foundation 

1.19 pm Understanding Chemotherapy 

Explanation tape on chemotherapy 


1.46 pm Understanding Radiation Therapy 

Explanation tape on radiation therapy 


2.15 pm Living With Stress 



2.51 pm END OF SESSION 1 



Start Time Title 



3.01 pm Pre-Surgery 


3.08 pm Informed Consent 

12 important questions to ask about your surgery 


3.26 pm Heart Disease 

Surgical education 

3.41 pm Taking Control Of Your Life After A Heart Attack Or 

Heart Surgery 

Cardiac rehabilitation programs 


4.05 pm Sharing Health Care 

Regain control of your life 

4.26 pm Listen To Your Heart 

Caring for your heart. Heart Foundation 



Medical education 

4.52 pm Helping You Understand Heart Failure 

Explanation tape on heart failure 


5.07 pm Stress And Humour 



5.43 pm Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Explanation tape on rheumatoid arthritis 


5.59 pm Blood Pressure 

High blood pressure 


6.35 pm Pre-Surgery 


6.42 pm Informed Consent 

12 important questions to ask about your surgery 


Surgical education 


7.12 pm Speaking From Experience 

Heart surgery in later years 

7.49 pm Clexane 

A simple guide to self-administration 


Heart Of Gold 

Heart transplant 

Springtime Sunset 

Relaxation techniques 

GOODNIGHT

Patient Information Guide - Queensland Health

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