We know that being admitted to hospital can create anxiety. This is why we want
you to be as informed as possible, and to be well prepared for what happens on admission day. Have a look at our helpful tips, and do not hesitate to call your hospital directly with any questions.
Admission, visitors and billing
On this page read more about:
- 10 helpful tips for hospital admission
- Visitor’s information
- Understanding hospital billing
Did you know?
Any person admitted under the age of 18 years should have a legitimate guarantor present at admission, to accept and sign the terms and conditions document.
10 helpful tips for hospital admission
- Complete pre-admission so that you can be fast-tracked on the day of admission. You can then use the quick check-in desk specifically for patients who have been pre-admitted.
- Understand that bed availability depends on the occupancy rate of the hospital. We apologise if you have to wait for a bed to become available: this depends on doctors’ rounds and the discharging of patients. Unplanned emergency admissions can also influence availability.
- Provide a list of your medication and bring all your chronic medication from home in the original containers/packaging and give it to the nurse receiving you in the ward. Your chronic medication will be reviewed by your doctor and where appropriate, administered to you during your stay. Any remaining medication will be returned to you on discharge. Ask your doctor about taking your chronic medication on the evening and morning before surgery.
- Do not eat or drink six hours before surgery, not even chewing gum or drinking water.
- Leave any valuables (money, cell phone, jewellery, etc.) at home, or lock them away securely – a safekeeping facility is available at reception. If you choose to keep any valuables at the hospital, you do so at your own risk. Make sure your valuables are out of sight and out of reach during visiting hours.
- Understand the rules: firearms are not allowed on hospital premises, and the facilities are no-smoking zones.
- Ring the bell if you have unapproved visitors in your room.
- Buy headphones at main reception for the television, if necessary.
- Request a private ward (at an extra tariff) – these will be allocated upon availability. When a patient is allocated a private room according to availability and not by request, the patient may need to be moved when the private room is needed by another patient for a specific situation.
- Rest assured: before you have any treatment, your doctor will talk to you about why you need it, the benefits and risks, and alternative treatments available. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask.
Visitor’s information
- Visiting with patients has been shown to support the recovery process, and we know how important it is to see your loved ones after a procedure.
- In order to promote healing, however, patients need to rest. The activities of the interdisciplinary team also require time.
- Thank you for keeping to our scheduled visiting hours. View hospital visiting hours.
- To ensure patient confidentiality, visitors aren’t allowed during doctors’ rounds and will be asked to exit the ward during this time.
- Nursing staff do not have the authority to disclose any information regarding the patient’s treatment, condition, prognosis or medication.
- Only your doctor may disclose such information with your permission.
- Family members who wish to speak to the doctor regarding a patient’s condition can make an appointment at the doctor’s rooms for this purpose.
- If a patient is unable to speak for themselves, one family member should be identified as a spokesperson with whom the doctor and staff may communicate.
Understanding hospital billing
- It is essential that you familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations of your medical aid. A case manager will be allocated to monitor the funding of your medical aid. Should you be a private patient, billing of your account can be disclosed to you either on request or when the case manager needs to communicate any changes to you.
- Co-payments must be paid upfront on admission. Please check with your medical aid to ensure the authorisation is obtained.
- It is your responsibility to:
- Ensure you are a valid member of a medical aid scheme, if applicable, and that your monthly premiums are up to date.
- Disclose general and specific condition-related waiting periods to your doctor and the hospital admissions staff.
- Ensure you have sufficient benefits for your planned admission.
- Confirm whether there are sufficient benefits for prosthetic items, if applicable. (Request a quote from your doctor, and send it to your medical aid.)
- Understand the co-payments, levies and deductibles for certain procedures, which will be your responsibility to settle on or before the day of admission.
- Understand your medical scheme benefit relating to medication prescribed on discharge.
- Ensure that your chosen hospital is on the list of preferred providers of your medical aid.
Did you know?
Hospital billing only covers the hospitalisation itself. It excludes services such as:
- Doctors
- Anaesthetists
- Radiology
- Laboratories
- Physiotherapists
These are all private enterprises, which will send you a separate bill.