Plan your visit, find out about our different services and what you will need to bring with you.
Before you arrive at hospital
Are you coming to Wonthaggi Hospital for a clinic appointment, day procedure or an operation? Do you have a loved one in hospital who you want to visit?
- Plan your visit with location, visitors and parking information
You may have very specific health needs requiring one service or a range of different services over time, at different parts of the hospital.
Main types of health services
Inpatient: If you’re admitted, even overnight, you are a hospital inpatient.
Outpatient: You don’t have a bed at the hospital, but you attend appointments to receive treatment. Prior to this, you may have been a hospital inpatient and now need follow-up care.
Community services: After your admission to hospital, you receive services either in your own home or attend a centre. These services enhance your health, independence and wellbeing.
Pre-admission clinic information
Our pre-admission clinics ensure patients are fit and ready for surgery, reducing last-minute cancellations, and pre-surgery reminder calls help confirm appointments.
Pre-admission services ensure patients are thoroughly prepared for surgery through medical evaluations, diagnostic tests and consultations with surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals. These services aim to reduce patient anxiety, optimise surgical outcomes, and streamline the admission process.
By providing clear instructions and addressing any questions, pre-admission services enhance patient safety and contribute to a more efficient healthcare experience
What to bring to hospital
Find out what information, medication, clothing, items and member cards you will need to bring with you.
Check out our handy checklist on what to bring and what not to bring to hospital.
Leave your valuables at home
Please avoid bringing valuables (including watches, jewellery, etc) or large amounts of cash into the hospital, as our health service does not accept responsibility for such items.
If you have brought valuables in with you, it is advisable to sign them over to the staff to be maintained in the safe. You will be given a receipt for the valuables, to be used at the time of collection.
Collection of valuables can only be undertaken during office hours.
If amounts of money over $50 have been signed over to the Health Service, at least one business days notice is required to retrieve these, as cash is not kept on the premises.
This arrangement is to be made via the Administration office at the Hospital.
Phone: (03) 5671 3333.
For more information about your stay at Wonthaggi Hospital
Patient classification
Wonthaggi Hospital, a part of Bayside Health is a public hospital, and on admission you will be required to make a decision regarding your patient classification status. You will be classified as one of the following care types:
- Public patient (Medicare)
- Private patient (Health Insurance details required)
- Compensable patient (WorkCover or TAC – claim number required)
- Veterans' Affairs patient (Card required for entitlement number & colour)
- Overseas patient from countries without reciprocal healthcare. Patients not covered by Medicare will be charged fees to achieve full cost recovery
Private patients
Patients with private health insurance have the choice to be treated as either a public or private patient – unless you have agreed with your surgeon to have your procedure as a private patient.
By using your private health insurance at Wonthaggi Hospital, you are assisting the Health Service to maintain provision of the best care and facilities for the community we serve.
Wonthaggi Hospital offers a comprehensive list of specialist surgeons as well as visiting medical staff from Bayside Health. The Private Patient Liaison Officer at Bayside Health Regional will manage all hospital accounts and paperwork to ensure no out-of-pocket expenses are incurred by the private patient.
Public patients cannot choose their own doctor, will receive follow up treatment in our Outpatients' Clinics, and do not receive any bills relating to their care in hospital.
If you elect to be a private patient, please ensure that your health fund membership is up to date, covers your admitted procedure (if surgical) and that you have your membership card/book or details with you.
It is your responsibility to be aware of your level of cover and to ensure that your membership is current.
Compensable patients
If your admission is the result of a traffic or work-related accident you will be admitted as a compensable patient (different fees apply). Please notify staff if this applies to you.
You must still elect to be public or private in the event of your claim being rejected. No accounts will be sent to you if you tell us who is responsible for your medical expenses.
Veterans' Affairs
Please notify staff if you hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold or White Card. All of your claimable accounts will then be sent to Department of Veterans' Affairs.