Patient FAQs

What mental health services does the hospital provide?

South Coast Private Hospital is the leading private mental health hospital in Wollongong. We are an Authorised Mental Health Service under the New South Wales Mental Health Act 2007 No 8. We have mental health facilities to treat most psychiatric disorders and illnesses.

Our services include:

• Neurostimulation rTMS
• Trauma
• PTSD
• Older persons mental health
• Specialised inpatient therapy programs
• Veterans and emergency services mental health
• Cognitive-behavioural therapy
• Dialectical-behavioural therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EDMR)
• Broad range of day programs to provide ongoing support

How do I arrange admission?

A referral is required from your GP or treating doctor, to a psychiatrist with admitting rights to our hospital. A member of our admissions and assessment team will conduct an over-the-phone assessment and require your health fund details. Following assessment and health fund check, we will discuss your case with one of our treating private psychiatrists, who consult to our hospital under their own independent business. On acceptance of the referral, we will contact you to arrange admission and transfer of your care and management to the psychiatrist. All existing medical and personal legal issues are to be discussed before admission with our intake office.

Do I need a letter of referral from my doctor?

Yes, you will need a referral from your treating doctor or specialist.

Can I enrol in a day program if I haven’t had an inpatient admission?

Yes, you can. To access our day programs, please ask your GP or health professional for a referral to a Psychiatrist with admitting rights to South Coast Private Hospital. Otherwise, please speak to your treating Psychiatrist, who will recommend a program suitable for you. Our staff will conduct a health fund check and confirm any out-of-pocket expenses.

Do you accept admissions after business hours?

No we do not have an Emergency Department. Generally, admissions are during business hours Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm.

Please call 1800 250 000 for all enquiries.

Do you offer Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?

Yes. Our hospital has an accredited team of Clinicians who administer rTMS as part of an inpatient admission. During this time you will also be enrolled in a depression-specific psychoeducation program to assist with skills to support your recovery.

Can I bring my mobile phone?

Yes, however please turn off your mobile phone when participating in group activities.

If you are an inpatient, you will need to turn your phone to silent between 8:00pm and 6:00am to avoid disturbing other patients.

You will have a bedside telephone. Local calls are free of charge. For long distance (STD) or international (ISD) calls, you will need to purchase a telephone card from reception Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm.

Can I bring my pillow and photos of family and friends?

Yes, you can bring personal items particularly if they will help you feel more comfortable.

Will my private health insurance cover me?

This depends on the individual private health insurance cover you have with your insurance provider. Our Admissions and Assessment Coordinator will check your level of cover with your insurance provider. We will advise you of any potential out-of-pocket expenses you will need to pay.

From 1 April 2018, a Mental Health Waiver has been introduced to enable eligible private hospital insurance members to upgrade their level of cover to a policy with Included in-hospital psychiatric treatment and elect to have the 2 month waiting period for those higher benefits waived.

If I don’t have private health insurance can I still be admitted?

Our hospital accepts patients who can self fund their admission. The Admissions and Assessment Coordinator will be able to arrange an estimate of expenses for you. There are also options to access your superannuation under certain conditions to fund health care. Please visit My Super Care.

Can I have a private room?

Yes, all of our rooms in the hospital are private and contain their own ensuite.

Can I have visitors?

Yes, visiting hours for all units of the hospital are:

• Monday to Friday: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

If you need to arrange a visit outside of these times, other hours may be negotiated with the Nurse Unit Manager.

We ask visits to be limited during group program sessions. Visitors must report to the staff station on arrival. Children must be supervised at all times.

Are pets allowed in the hospital?

We do not permit general pets onsite that are not accredited service dogs. Only assistance dogs with full certified public access will be able to accompany patients and documentation must be presented prior to admission.

Can I drive myself to hospital?

No, patients must not drive themselves while undergoing treatment. Please arrange a family member or friend to bring you to hospital. For more information, speak to your treating Psychiatrist. No on-site parking included.

Are snacks and refreshments available?

Coffee, tea and biscuits is only available for patients in our lounge facilities and dining room.

Once admitted as an inpatient, can I leave at my own will?

In the interest of patient safety and in accordance with our hospital leave policy, no leave is permitted for the first 72 hours of your hospital admission, to allow for assessment by your treating Psychiatrist. Overnight or extend leave is not allowed.

Leave following this time is at the approval of the treating Psychiatrist and discretion of the Nursing staff.

What happens while I am a patient?

We provide active treatment with individual and group programs. You will be encouraged to participate in group therapy sessions and one-on-one appointments with your Psychiatrist. This all forms an important part of treatment, for you to explore emotional and behavioural patterns, and learn more about your disorder.

Can I be transferred to South Coast Private Hospital if I am admitted to a mental health unit at a public hospital?

Yes, you can.

You can request that your treating team make contact with our Admissions and Assessment Coordinator to determine your suitability for transfer.

Voluntary Assisted Dying

Aurora Healthcare hospitals do not provide voluntary assisted dying services as part of our hospital and health services.

Aurora Healthcare is committed to a compassionate approach to responding to patients who express a desire for information or access to Voluntary Assisted Dying Services. We will provide information and support to access the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Coordination Service.

To discuss voluntary assisted dying or be connected with a doctor who can support you through the process, please call the free NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator Service on 1300 802 133 Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm (excluding public holidays) or email them on NSLHD-VADCareNavigator@health.nsw.gov.au