Coming to hospital

You should inform medical and nursing staff of any allergies you may have to antibiotics, medications or types of food as soon as possible, even before you are admitted to hospital.

If you have an allergy, we will give you coloured wrist and ankle bands to wear. We will also record alerts in your medical record.

What matters to you, matters to us. For more information about how we will work with you to keep you safe while you’re in hospital go to Your safety is our priority.

Need to change or cancel your appointment? You can use our online form or call us.

If you are coming to hospital for a day procedure or an overnight (or longer) stay, you should wear comfortable clothes, such as pants or a tracksuit that is easy to put on and take off. Shoes should be comfortable, closed with firm gripping soles.

Open-back slippers and thongs are not suitable, potentially dangerous for you and are strongly discouraged.

Certain types of appointments or procedures might need you to wear particular clothing or footwear. Staff will advise you about this when you make your appointment.

You can download our handbook for people travelling from country Victoria or interstate.

Do you need to stay at a hotel, motel or apartment while a loved one is in hospital or you are receiving treatment?

Before you make your appointment or come into hospital, if you think you will need an interpreter, then you can organise one.

If you are staying in hospital, and feel you are not understanding what our staff are telling you, then ask them to organise an interpreter for you.

Interpreters help you by phone or in person.

Find out more about our Transcultural and Interpreter Service.

When you come to the hospital for an appointment, day procedure or an overnight (or longer) stay, its important that your local doctor or GP is kept informed about your condition.

• When you arrive, staff will confirm your local doctor's name and contact details. If they don't, feel free to ask them.
• During your stay, staff will advise your local doctor of major changes in your condition.
• When you leave, staff will advise your local doctor of your condition and any follow up actions they made need to take.

When you are in hospital, each day you or your carers can choose what you will eat from an electronic menu.

When you come to hospital, bring your medicines with you, including non-prescription or complementary therapy medicines.

Construction of the Metro Tunnel may cause some delays for you coming to or leaving the hospital.

Over time, demand for our specialists clinics has increased. This page explains how we process referrals received from your doctor and how you would receive any follow up outpatient appointments. It also explains how we let you know when your appointment will be.

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta*and Italy*.

Don't bring germs in - don't take germs home.

When you come to the RMH, you can choose to be treated as a private or public patient.

The RMH aims to provide the best possible health services and care.

From March 2020, the Transit Lounge has relocated to level 2 at the RMH City Campus.

If you are coming to hospital for an overnight (or longer) stay, please don't bring:

• your handbag, wallet, purse or large amounts of cash. Just bring a small amount for items such as newspapers, magazines or coffee.
• valuables - jewellery, watches or other items of value to you.

We are committed to caring for you, so we cannot be responsible for your valuables.

At The Royal Melbourne Hospital we are on a journey to enhance the experience of our LGBTIQA+ and questioning patients, consumers and visitors.

Not sure what to bring with you? We can help you.

Advance Care Planning is about making plans for your future now in case you are not able to make decisions for yourself later on.

Unfortunately, up to 95% of healthcare workers have experienced verbal or physical assault. At The Royal Melbourne Hospital, we are committed to providing the best possible care to our patients and consumers, but to do this, we need to ensure the safety of the people who provide that care.

Patients may not drink alcohol or use drugs on hospital premises unless prescribed by medical staff.

There is an ATM at the RMH City Campus.

Each bedside console has a call button.

In some circumstances, a patient’s behaviour may become challenging or difficult due to the symptoms of their condition.

You have the right to determine what is done to your body.

Some patients may go home on day leave, or carers can come into the ward to practice the activities needed to care for the patient at home.

Don't forget to bring your dentures, glasses, hearing or walking aids when you come to hospital.

We use an electronic medical record (EMR) to improve the way we deliver patient care. Our EMR is shared by the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Family and friends can call Patient Enquiries and ask to speak to ward staff to find out about your condition.

Our staff are fully trained in fire and emergency procedures.

We have free guest wireless internet (wi-fi) access - search for the "MH-Guest" network.

What will the hospital room be like?

We ask patients to wear identification bands so you can be easily identified and we can ensure you receive the right treatment and care.

Your family and friends know you better than we do.

We aim to involve patients in decisions about their care.

A Justice of the Peace is on duty weekdays from 10am to 2pm.

Inner Melbourne Community Legal provides free legal advice for patients.

If you lose a personal item while you are here, report the loss to staff as soon as possible.

For your safety, we need a detailed knowledge of all the medicines you are taking (including those purchased from health food shops, supermarkets or over the counter in pharmacies).

While you are in hospital, our staff will regularly check your ability to sit, stand and walk.

Sometimes things can go wrong in hospital.

The Mooroop Wa-Lam-Buk Garden at the RMH City campus is a relaxing and welcoming outdoor garden for our patients, staff and visitors to escape the hospital environment.

Patient bedside whiteboards are located near each bed. They are used by patients, families and our staff to ask and share information during a patient's hospital stay.

If you are in hospital for a longer stay, your risk of getting a blood clot in your leg or your lung is much higher than usual.

You can fall over in hospital due to the unfamiliar environment, when you are feeling unwell or when you are on certain medications.

Pressure injuries (bed sores) are areas of damage to the skin or underlying tissue, caused by lying in one place for too long or your skin rubbing against another surface.

Maintaining your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information is important to us.

We welcome your feedback as it helps us improve our services.

Family or friends sometimes take photos or videos of patients during their hospital stay, however there are some important factors you should consider before taking any photos or videos in hospital.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital is a tertiary teaching hospital with a long and proud commitment to providing quality educational experiences for our future health care providers.

Pay phones are located in the lift foyers on most levels of the hospital and in most wards.

Bedside phones are not always available, so if many patients wish to use the ward phones, staff may need to restrict the number of calls to or from each patient so that other patients can use the phone.

We would prefer that people only use mobile phones in public spaces such as the lift foyers and the café in the interest of noise reduction and privacy.

You can bring battery-operated radios and music players to use while you are here.

We aim to keep your residential care facility informed about you.

There are some restrictions on visiting the Royal Melbourne Hospital due to COVID-19.

Our dedicated volunteers complement the treatment of healthcare professionals by providing warmth and friendship to patients, and their family and friends.

You can do your own washing at Royal Park.

Who do you want us to contact?

Your safety is our priority. We want to work with you to keep you safe while you’re in hospital.

During your stay in hospital, you will be cared for by a team of health professionals and support staff.

We have a retail pharmacy (chemist) in our retail precinct.

You can help us to improve the care we provide by becoming part of the RMH Consumer Register.

Our Hospital in the Home (HITH) service provides hospital level care for patients in their home environment. It is a safe and efficient substitution for in-hospital care for a wide range of conditions.

Care is provided by an experienced team of medical and nursing staff. Patients are medically reviewed in their own home by HITH doctors who consult with treating units. Participation is voluntary.

Find out more about Hospital in the Home.

Do you need a medical certificate?

During your care, your doctor gives information to you and you can request information from them as you need it.

When you leave, take your medicines as prescribed, to make sure you recover well.

We can help you work out how to modify your home so you can get around more easily.

We work with you and your family to set goals for what you want to achieve from your stay in hospital.

Sometimes people need to attend a specialist clinic for a check-up, specialist treatment or ongoing care at the hospital.

We welcome your feedback as it helps us improve our services.

Do you need longer term care at home or in a residential care facility?

Do you need longer term care at home or in a residential care facility?

Providing care and restorative services to older people.

The death of someone close to you can be very distressing. Add to that the responsibility for making funeral arrangements and putting the person’s affairs in order and the experience can feel quite overwhelming.