Visiting a patient at Austin Health

Visitors are permitted to Austin Health sites with some restrictions.

Patients staying in hospital

We ask patients to have a maximum of two visitors at their bedside at a time, to facilitate staff in providing bedside care.

Patients in Emergency

Patients may have one visitor per patient into the cubicle area dependent on capacity and distancing requirements.

No visitors are permitted in the waiting room unless covered by an exemption listed below. 

COVID-19 or quarantined patients

Patients can have two visitors with a maximum of four visitors per day.

Visitors will need to wear appropriate personal protective equipment. Check with the Nurse in Charge. 

Patients receiving palliative care

Visitors are welcome at any time.

Please check with the Nurse in Charge for further information.

COVID positive patient receiving palliative care

COVID positive patients can have visitors between 10am and 8pm.

Visitors will need to wear appropriate personal protective equipment. Check with the Nurse in Charge. 

Masks and hand hygiene

Surgical masks are still mandatory in all clinical areas at Austin Health. Visitors will need to perform hand hygiene and collect a mask when they arrive at the clinical area they’re visiting.

If visiting a COVID positive or quarantined patient, then the use of an N95 mask is mandatory.

Exemptions

Exemptions remain in place for patients who need additional support, including patients who:

• are children under the age of 18
• are living with disability 
• have a behavioural need
• are non-English speaking and require assistance with translation
• are living with mental health or dementia and have a nominated medical treatment decision maker.

Please discuss with your Nurse in Charge or care team to confirm if you are eligible.

Contact a ward

To speak to a ward, call our Switchboard on 03 9496 5000.

Specialist clinics (outpatient) appointments

Where possible, Specialist Clinics (outpatient) appointments are being held by phone or Telehealth, rather than in person.

You will be contacted before your appointment to let you know if it will be conducted by phone or Telehealth. Please attend as normal unless told otherwise.

Patients who are required to attend face to face appointments are requested to come alone where possible.

One carer may remain if a patient:

• is a child under 18 years old
• has a disability
• has a behavioural need
• is non-English speaking and requires assistance with translation.
• is physically frail
• requires psychological support.

Find out more about attending your Specialist Clinics appointment.