Patients & visitors
Patients & visitors
Patients & visitors
Preparing for home
- Home
- Patients & visitors
- Patient resources
- Preparing for home
We also call this “discharge planning”.
This document should not replace the advice of your relevant health care professional.
Donate online
Donate today using our simple online form:
Donate by phone
To pay with your credit card over the phone, please call us during business hours:
Austin Health Foundation
Tel: 03 9496 5753
Donate by cheque or money order
Please make your cheque or money order payable to 'Austin Health' and post it to:
Austin Health Foundation
Locked Bag 25 or 145 Studley Road
HEIDELBERG VIC 3084
It is important you include your name, address, email address and phone number so we can send you a tax-deductible receipt.
Donate by EFT
To exchange the information needed, please call us during business hours:
Austin Health Foundation
Tel: 03 9496 5753
It is important you use the reference 'donation' in the transfer.
Transport
You will need to plan for how you will get home from hospital. Can a family member pick you up or will need to book a taxi? Remember that maxi taxis need to be booked ahead of time. You may need to have someone with you for support if you have had a recent procedure.
Speak with your nurse if you have any questions or need help to organise transport.
Parking
Please ask your nurse for the best parking option closest to the ward you will be leaving from.
More information about parking is available here:
- Parking at Austin Hospital
- Parking at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
- Parking at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre
- Concession rate parking
- Accessible parking at Austin Hospital
Medicines
A pharmacist may talk to you about medicines needed for when you go home. They may give you a list of your current medicines. This list will show what you are now taking - including any new medicines, and any medicines you should stop taking. It may help to have a family member or friend with you during this conversation.
Future appointments
Your hospital doctor may want to see you after you have returned home. We aim to give you the appointment details before you leave, otherwise you will be sent a letter in the mail with your appointment details.
These appointments may be in person or via Telehealth. If you have many appointments, we will try to coordinate these to limit multiple visits back to the hospital.
Equipment
You may see a member of the allied health team (for example a physiotherapist or occupational therapist) during your hospital stay, who may organise mobility or safety equipment for you to use at home. They will talk with you about equipment hire, which we offer free of charge for the first 30 days.
Ask your nurse if you have any questions about equipment.
Community services and supports at home
Your nurse or other members of your care team may organise support services to help you care for yourself at home.
Make sure you have the details of any services arranged for you before you leave.
Medical certificate or carer’s certificate
If you need a medical certificate (or carer’s certificate for a family member) please ask your doctor before you leave hospital.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you need these documents.
Important discharge information
There are some key documents that you should be provided with before you leave. These include:
- Future appointment details
- Referrals to other services
- Medical discharge summary – a copy will be sent to your GP and uploaded to My Health Record (unless you have opted out)
Feedback
We welcome your feedback about your experience and the care you received while you were in hospital. There are lots of different ways to provide this feedback.
Download as a fact sheet
You can also download the information from this page as a fact sheet. It also includes a preparing for home checklist.
Links and downloads
- Preparing for home (PDF - 453.2 KB)
Contact us
For further information contact:
Patient Safety and Clinical Excellence
Phone: 03 9496 5000