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Adelaide Airport & Commercial Flights

Adelaide Airport is located 20 minutes drive to the west of the city on Sir Donald Bradman Drive.  A taxi fare from the airport to Royal Adelaide Hospital is approximately $20. 

When booking your flight please notify the airline if you will require a wheelchair.  A medical certificate may be required by the airline if you have had surgery. At Adelaide airport you are sometimes required to walk across the tarmac some distance to your plane. Regional Express Airlines (Rex) provide a lifter to load and unload passengers who are unable to negotiate the stairs of a plane and a small golf buggy to transport you across the tarmac.    Please notify the airline if you require this service.  Other airlines may not provide the lifter so it is worth checking. 

Please ask the staff if you require any assistance with booking flights.

When using commercial airlines and electronic ticketing please ensure that you request a tax invoice at booking.

Note the Regional Express flight are the only flights that have a lifter to assist patients in boarding the aircraft.

Websites for more information and bookings

• www.regionalexpress.com.au
• www.oconnorairlines.com.au
• www.qantas.com.au

Admission Procedures

The Royal Adelaide Hospital will provide you with details of where to report on your day of admission. Please remember to bring your Medicare Card, and where applicable, your Health Care Card, pension cards, Repatriation entitlement card, letter from your referring doctor (if applicable), relevant private X-rays and Patient Assisted Travel Form (PATS) if required (see PATS section for more information).

Valuables & Personal effects
Please do not bring any valuables or large sums of money with you. If you do bring valuables however, the nursing staff can assist in organising their safekeeping in the Hospital’s central safe. Please remember to organise for them to be collected prior to discharge. The Hospital cannot accept responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any property you choose to keep at your bedside.

You are required to bring toiletries such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush and comb, shaving gear and tissues. Nightclothes, dressing gown and slippers are ideal if you have time to pack them. Remember that if you were transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a hurry, you will need clothes to wear home when discharged

Baby Changing Facilites

Baby changing facilities are located in the following sites around the hospital. One in each of the male and female toilets.

The locations of these facilities may alter during the hospital redevelopment.

Banks

A Bank SA branch is situated in the main entrance of the Hospital.  It has easy banking facilities and an automated teller machine (ATM) which is situated on the front wall of the main entrance to the Hospital.  The ATM accommodates customers of BankSA, ANZ, National Australia, Adelaide Central Credit Union, Adelaide Bank, VISA, Diners Club, and has Cashcard facilities. Other ATM machines are located in Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Bus Services

To assist in arranging your transport too and from the hospital we have included the following service providers contact numbers. If you require assistance with your arrangements please ask ward staff.

Cafeteria

The cafeteria “Revive On Five” is located on Level 5 of the P Wing.  It can be accessed from the top of the escalators on Level 5 by following the corridor towards the north wing then turning right and following this corridor. It is situated at the end of this corridor and is open to relatives, patients, staff and visitors.

Chapel and Chaplains

A chapel is located on the ground level, western end of the Residential Wing and is accessible by arrangement.  Chaplains and assistants regularly visit wards.  Hospital Chapel Services are conducted by the Chaplains every Sunday, starting at 11.00am. All patients, relatives, staff and residents in the Residential Wing are welcome.  Volunteers assist in the transportation of patients from the wards in wheelchairs when requested.  Please ask the nursing staff if you wish to attend services or arrange for individual visits on the ward.  A directory of all contact telephone numbers for different denominations and other religions is kept by the Hospital switchboard, telephone (08) 8222 4000.

Community Passenger Networks

Some areas of rural South Australia have Community Passenger Networks that may be able to assist you in getting to and from Adelaide.  Please contact the coordinator of your local service to discuss availability of services and eligibility.

Enquiries Desk

Telephone: (08) 8222 5442 or (08) 8222 5444

The Enquiries Desk is located in the main entrance foyer of the Hospital.  Enquiries offer a telephone and personal inpatient enquiry service for the general public who require directions, or need to find the location of a patient.  This is available from 8.00am to 8.30pm.  After hours, please contact Emergency Department on (08) 8222 4210.

External Support Groups

Comprehensive information about community resources and support groups is available from the Social Work Department. Some of these include the Anti-Cancer Foundation and Veterans Affairs. Please ask for assistance from your nursing staff.

Florist

Telephone (08) 8232 3007

There is a florist located in the main entrance foyer of the Hospital.  A free delivery service operates within the Hospital for items over $20 in value.  Credit card facilities are available.  The shop is a member of Interflora.

Hairdresser - Hairific

Telephone: (08) 8224 0088

A professional hairdressing salon for men and women is located in the main entrance foyer.  Arrangements can be made for a visit on the wards.  A range of wigs are also available for those patients with specific medical conditions.  A private room and a senior hairdresser are available to assist in cutting and styling wigs.  Hairific is supportive of people with medical conditions and treatments that result in hair loss and have some great products to help you through the recovery time.

Health Promotion Unit

The Health Promotion Unit is situated in the main entrance foyer of the Hospital.  The Unit provides a range of health information and advice, together with a variety of programs and services.  These are designed to promote good health.  This is a good place to spend some time whilst awaiting appointments.

Interpreting Service

An external interpreting service provides a range of languages including sign language.  Aboriginal interpreting services are also available. Inform staff if you require this service to allow you to make informed decisions regarding your treatment.  Hospital staff are only used for interpreting in emergency situations.

The Hospital operates an interpreting service for patients and their families to utilise if required.  Please feel free to ask  nursing staff about this service.  For information on these contact the Aboriginal Health Nurse via the hospital switchboard

Kiosk

The kiosk is located at the main entrance, North Terrace, and services include snacks and light refreshments.

The opening hours are as follows:

Laundry

The Hospital does not have facilities for washing your personal belongings.  If you do not have friends or relatives in Adelaide to assist with laundry, the Lavender Lads and Ladies operate a limited emergency service for the laundering of night-gowns, pyjamas and underwear only.  A small donation covers the costs of materials used.  Please inform the nursing staff on the ward if you require assistance.

The RAH Newsagent in the main entrance foyer acts as a collection point for Tip Top Dry Cleaners. Garments for cleaning, if left before 9.30 am, will normally be ready for collection by 10.00am the next day.

Lavender Lads and Ladies

The Lavender Lads and Ladies offer a volunteer service of care and support for all patients attending the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with special emphasis on those without family assistance.

Services include banking, shopping, payment of accounts, care of flowers in wards and delivery of library and large print books and magazines.  Regular visits and companionship for patients can also be arranged.  Volunteers regularly take a toiletry trolley with essential items to the wards with goods for sale.

If the volunteers can help, please ask a volunteer or nursing staff to call for assistance on telephone extension 24671.

Mail and Postal Facilities

Your mail is delivered to your ward daily. Incoming mail should be addressed as follows:

Your name
Your ward
Royal Adelaide Hospital
North Terrace
ADELAIDE SA 5000

When you go home your mail will be forwarded to you.  An Australia Post mail box is located on the ground level near the Main Entrance.  Hospital staff can also post items for you through the internal mail system which is collected daily.

Newsagent

Telephone: (08) 8222 4709

This service is operated by the Hospital and all profits go to the Research Fund.  The newsagent is also an agent for South Australian Lotteries Commission, bus, train and tram tickets, a dry-cleaning service, film processing, phone cards, postage stamps and other postal accessories.  A range of gifts are also available.

Parking

A privately-operated multi-storey car park is located in the northern part of the hospital grounds.  The entrance is on Frome Road.  Charges apply.  Country patients and relatives can negotiate a weekly rate with the operators which can reduce your parking costs. 

Fifteen (15) minute parking is available in the south car park from Monday to Friday to drop-off and collect people who are being admitted or discharged, or attending and outpatient appointment.  The entrance to this car park is via North Terrace.  On site parking for people with a disability is available. 

There are several multi storey car parks south of the hospital on Frome Road and Rundle Street that are within walking distance.

For an updated map of parking areas in close proximity to the Hospital, click here. (File size: 102Kb. You will need Adobe Acrobat to download this file)

Patient Pick-up Points

Please ask the nursing staff on the ward for the most appropriate place to be collected upon discharge.  Short term 15 minute parking is available in different areas of the hospital.

Public Transport

Free bus services, 99B and the City Loop (99C), operate throughout the city square.  The City Loop (99C) has a stop directly outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital and stops at various shopping facilities and city attractions, including the Adelaide Railway Station and the Adelaide Central Market. Please contact the Adelaide Metro Transport InfoLine on (08) 8210 1000 for bus timetable information or www.adelaidemetro.com.au. Taxi facilities are available at the main entrance of the hospital on North Terrace.

Country Bus Services

If you require assistance with your arrangements please ask ward staff.
This website has all of the latest routes, timetable and booking details:www.bussa.com.au

Public Telephones

Pay phones are located in the foyer areas of most wards and the main areas of the Hospital.  Phone cards for these are available from the Hospital Newsagency in the main entrance foyer.

Please note that mobile telephones are not to be utilised in the ward areas as they may interfere with medical equipment.

Patient Telephone Service

Patients have access to a personal telephone next to their beds.  Phone numbers are allocated to each bed number within the ward.  The calls are taken by staff in the ward office who will then transfer the call to the patient’s phone. 

Outgoing calls & Phone Away Cards

To make outgoing calls a Telstra Phone Away Card will be required.  Please note that this is not a normal phone card and must be a Telstra Phone Away Card.  A series of numbers from the card is entered into the phone after dialling “0” and the cost of the call is electronically deducted from the card balance.  Local and STD calls can be made using this facility.

All private patients and Veteran Affairs Gold cardholders are provided with one $5 card.

Telstra Phone Away cards can be purchased from the hospital newsagency or the hospitals mobile paper stand. The minimum card cost is $5.  Remaining credits on the card can be used from any phone, including home.

Shopping and other facilities

Food Shopping
There are various supermarkets located within the city.

• Woolworths is located in Rundle Mall.  This is approximately a 15-minute walk from the Hospital, or a short taxi ride.  Woolworths also have a voucher facility where prepaid vouchers (known as “gift vouchers”) can be presented to the register in place of money.
  
  These can be purchased at the Service Desk of any Woolworth’s store.  For telephone enquiries, please contact Woolworths on (08) 8232 0787.
  
  
• Coles Supermarket and the Central Market are located in Grote Street and can be accessed via the City Loop (99C) which is a free service or an approximate 10-minute taxi ride.

There are many cafes, restaurants and a few hotels located in Rundle Street which is a 5-minute walk from the Hospital, where you are able to obtain anything from a cup of coffee to a restaurant meal.

Smoking

Royal Adelaide Hospital is committed to a non-smoking policy.  Patients, staff and visitors are not permitted to smoke in the Hospital.

Television and Radios

A private company provides a bedside television hire service to patients, as you are unable to use your own television within the Hospital.  Television hire is to be paid up-front, and can be arranged by phoning (08) 8222 4871, or by asking the nursing staff to arrange this service for you.  Special rates are available if the service is to be used for more than one day.  Cheques and most credit cards are accepted.  Personal radios are permitted if they have earphones.

The Ward Environment in a Teaching Hospital

The Royal Adelaide Hospital is a public teaching hospital.  As a teaching hospital you will often have a team of people caring for you and keeping up with the names of everyone on the team can be tricky.

Hospital doctors, usually the intern and registrars, will visit you daily or more frequently if required.  The intern and the registrars are involved with the majority of your medical care.  The Consultant Specialist will visit at different times during the week.  Remember, if you have any questions; please do not hesitate to ask the nursing staff.

If you have any concerns regarding the care you are receiving, please feel free to speak to the Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC).  The CNC is responsible for all nursing staff on the ward and consults regularly with medical staff in relation to your care.  If you have any specific questions, the CNC can assist in organising the appropriate person to assist you.  The CNC is available Monday to Friday.

Toilets

Toilets are located in each waiting room area in Outpatients and in the foyer (near the lifts) on all North Wing floors. They are also located near the cafeteria, in the main entrance and on the upper level of the East Wing near the central lift area.

Valuables and Personal Effects

Please do not bring any valuables or large sums of money with you.  However, if you do bring valuables, the nursing staff can assist in organising their safekeeping in the Hospital’s central safe.  Please remember to organise for them to be collected prior to discharge.  The Hospital cannot accept responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any property you choose to keep at your bedside.

Vending Machines

Vending machines for food and beverages are available on all levels of the North Wing, Level 3 of the East Wing, Admissions Centre, Emergency Department and the basement of the Residential Wing.

Visiting Hours and Restrictions

While some wards have restrictions, visiting hours are negotiable.  Please speak with the ward nursing staff to check the wards visiting times.  If people are travelling long distances from the country to visit you on a particular day, it may be wise for them to check with nursing staff that you will be available.

Disclaimer
This booklet has been designed to be used as a guide only, and to assist patients, their family and friends, whilst attending the Royal Adelaide Hospital.  Whilst every effort has been made to include accurate and up-to-date information, the Royal Adelaide Hospital cannot be held responsible for any omissions or errors.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital expresses its appreciation to all who have contributed to the Booklet. 2006