One (1) nominated support person is welcome to stay overnight only if they are here to help and support.

Safety and Security

Please notify your Midwife if you plan to stay as a support person overnight. It is important that we know of your Intention to Stay, especially in the case of an emergency. Ideally, you should arrive in the ward prior to completion of visiting hours at 8pm.

Expectations

As a support person, you are welcome to stay overnight on the condition you are here to help and support.
Participation and involvement in both mother’s and baby’s care are encouraged. It is important that you understand that there are physical and emotional changes that new Mums can go through, resulting in sleep deprivation and teary episodes. Staying overnight is designed to be an opportunity to provide practical assistance and emotional support, during what can be a challenging time.

In taking this opportunity, you agree to the following conditions:

• You must be 18 years of age or older, with partners only exempt through negotiation.
• Patient’s children under 18 years are not permitted to stay overnight under any circumstances.
• You must be appropriately dressed at all times. No sleepwear is to be worn outside your room.
• Hospital staff may enter your room at any time during your stay.
• Movement around the ward is to be kept to a minimum, especially at night due to the potential delays in staff being able to facilitate re-entry to the ward. Please only use your mobile phone in your room or outside the ward. Use in corridors may be disruptive to other patients and staff.
• Your presence must not delay care of your loved ones or housekeeping. Attention will always
• remain on mother and baby.
• There may be occasions when staff need to speak with your loved one privately. Please respect this need if requested to leave temporarily.
• Aggressive behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
• If you are unwell with any illness you will not be permitted to stay.

Any breach of this may result in immediate withdrawal of your overnight stay privileges

Access
Entry to the Maternity Inpatient Unit is via the hospital’s Main Reception, 24 hours a day. The Maternity Entry doors are locked between 8pm and 10am. General visiting hours are between 10am-8pm daily. For access people are required to communicate with reception or with staff via the intercom afterhours. Additional support people or anyone that is intoxicated will not be permitted entry.

Parking
Parking is available 24 hours a day within the multi-story car park, accessed via Olsen Ave or Parklands Drive. Cost is as per schedule at www.secureparking.com.au. A covered walkway from the car park to B Block 1st Floor is available for use, in addition to ground floor access via the main foyer.

Accommodation
A daybed or chair is provided for your use. Due to safety and consideration of others, you are not to use the patient’s bed. It would be appreciated if the daybed could be vacated and tidy by approximately 7am to allow for patient care to be attended. The en-suite bathroom is available for your use. Other visitors must use the public toilets.

Meals
Meals and beverages are not provided to support people staying overnight. Food and drinks can be purchased from the food court located on the D Block Ground Floor, or you may bring in some food. We are also unable to supply cutlery or crockery. Consumption of alcohol and smoking are not permitted within the hospital grounds.

Care of Baby
Babies are not to be left unattended in your room. If you wish to leave the ward, then one of you need to remain to care for the baby. You are encouraged not to leave the maternity ward with the baby unless undergoing investigations or treatment within the hospital, during which they may be escorted by hospital staff. You may transport your baby unescorted in their cot between the Maternity Ward and Newborn Care Unit, if the baby is medically stable to do so. The baby’s cot should always be kept flat. For safety, please use the baby cot when outside your room.