Coffs Harbour Hospital

Coffs Harbour Hospital

	Address
	345 Pacific Highway Coffs Harbour South NSW, 2450
	Telephone
	(02) 6656 7000
	Type of Unit
	ICU/HDU/CCU

 

Unit Services

The Coffs Harbour Critical Care unit provides support for those patients whose conditions require: constant and close monitoring and support from specific equipment to maintain vital functions such as ventilation while patients recover from serious illness.

The unit is Level 5 combined Intensive Care / Coronary Care unit and provides intensive monitoring and supporting treatments such as Mechanical Ventilation, Dialysis, Post Surgery Support, Paediatric Care and Cardiac Care including Intra Aortic Balloon Pump and specialised Blood Pressure and Cardiac Pressure Monitoring. There are approximately 750 patient admissions/year, of which, 250 require ventilation support.
The unit supports a retrieval service to outlying district hospitals and provides a medical emergency team service to the hospital’s inpatient units.
The length of stay in the critical care unit can vary. Many patients are discharged within one to two days. Some patients require monitoring and support for several weeks or even months dependent on their condition.

Critical Care Unit Staff

Medical cover is available 24 hours/ day. A Director of Critical Care (Intensive Care Specialist) and one other Specialist Intensivist are supported by four (4) Career Medical Officers who lead patient care in the unit. The Medical Officers are available with the sole responsibility for the critical care unit and any other patients at risk of becoming critically ill throughout the hospital. Coronary care patients are admitted under Physicians and are supported by Medical Registrars.
A Physiotherapist is allocated to the unit and available to support and supplement clinical care with other services including pharmacists, dieticians and social workers when required.
The nurse/patient ratio is one nurse per ventilated patient with an in-charge nurse each shift. The nurse/patient ratio changes for other patients depending on the status of their condition. A Nursing Unit Manager Level 2 and a Clinical Nurse Educator are employed full time for the unit.
Receptionist assistance is available during business hours. This service coordinates enquiries and liaises with the critical care unit staff.

Expectations of Visitors

• Your presence is especially important to the patient and welcomed by the staff.
• In general we do ask that visitors are restricted to family, and that there are only two visitors at the bedside at any one time.
• Visitors are reminded to respect the privacy and condition of other patients. Patient lounges should be used where there are groups of four or more visitors or where young children are visiting.
• All children visiting the campus must be accompanied by an adult. Check with the nurse at the bedside before bringing children into the unit.
• Use the phone near the Intensive Care Unit entrance. When the handset is lifted the phone automatically calls through to staff stations. A member of staff will inform you if you are able to visit immediately and release the entrance door.
• The hospital is committed to the rights of staff to work in a safe, healthy and supportive work environment that is free of violence. The hospital will not tolerate violent or disruptive behaviour from any person including patients and visitors.
• Visitors are asked to wash their hands using the alcohol cleanser in the dispenser on the wall as you enter the unit. This is to decrease risks of infection.

Non Smoking Site
Coffs Harbour Health Campus is a non smoking site and you are asked not to smoke while in the hospital grounds.

Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are between 10.00am – 1.00pm and 3.00pm – 8.00pm.
We endeavour to keep strictly to these hours to allow for day to day tasks to be completed; in special circumstances these times can be more flexible, in discussion with nursing staff.

Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are not to be used inside the unit as they may interfere with vital medical equipment.
Bedside patient telephones are available to both make and receive calls. To arrange connection to this service contact unit staff.
The standard fee will be charged for local and/or STD calls made from unit telephones and must be paid for prior to your discharge.

Waiting Room
A waiting area is located outside the Intensive Care Unit - Admission Waiting Area Level 2.
Do not leave valuables in the waiting area while you are visiting and keep them with you at all times for security.
A public phone is located in the Main Entrance Level 1 and the Admission Waiting Area Level 2.

Flowers
Due to the risk of infection, flowers and plants are not permitted into the unit.

Visitor Accommodation
Shearwater Lodge is a community project of the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour. Shearwater Lodge provides accommodation for patients and carers who are receiving treatment in the Coffs Harbour area. Bookings and enquiries regarding accommodation can be made by phoning 6656 7162 or 6656 7406 after hours.

Support Services
Chaplaincy Service
The Chaplaincy Service seeks to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of hospital patients and their families and friends, by being available to people where they are and whatever their beliefs may be. The Chaplaincy Service provides prayer support, administration of the Sacraments, support in grief and loss, or simply a friendly visit. The Chaplain is usually in the hospital weekday mornings and is on call at other times. Clergy and Pastoral Visitors from various denominations and faiths visit the hospital as required, and can be contacted on your behalf. If you wish to speak to a Chaplain, please inform the nursing staff who will make contact for you.
Within the hospital there is a dedicated Reflection Room which is located off the main foyer. It offers an inviting quiet place for prayer and meditation. A short prayer service is held here most week day mornings at 9.45am and all are welcome to attend.

Social Work
The Social Work Department provides support to patients and their families who have health related issues. This support is offered by professionally qualified Social workers and Welfare Workers who may see people as both inpatients and outpatients.
The support offered can include assisting people in: coping with life change; grief and loss; adjustment to health issues; social problems; financial problems and assisting people in accessing other services they may need. They can also advise on community resources that provide additional support and assistance.
You can contact the Social Work Department directly on 6656 7611 or the nursing staff to contact them on your behalf.

Carer Support
Carers play a vital role in the health and well being of the person who they care for. The Carer Support Coordinator can provide carers with information and referrals to appropriate organizations. The Carer Support Coordinator can be contacted on 6656 7226.
Information can also be sought from the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre 1800 052 222 or Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre 1800 242 636.

Aboriginal Liaison Officer
The Aboriginal Liaison Officer acts as an advocate and provides support for Aboriginal inpatients and their families. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer can be contacted on 6656 7058 or 6656 7821.

Hospital Shop / Canteen
The Coffee Shop is operated by the Pink Ladies and is located to the left of the main entrance foyer. The Coffee Shop offers a wide range of healthy food options, hot and cold drinks, cakes and confectionary.

• Opening Hours
• Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30pm (5pm during Winter)
• Sat – Sun 8.30am – 2.30pm

ATM & Banking Services
Bananacoast Credit Union provides an ATM on site at the hospital for use by patients, staff and visitors. Located in the main entrance foyer the ATM accepts most card types.

Phones
Public phones are available throughout the facility.
A public phone is located in the Main Entrance Level 1 and the Admission Waiting Area Level 2.

Parking
Parking for patients and visitors is available. Please obey the signs and park only where appropriate, given the expected time you will be in the hospital.
There is a zone near the front main entrance of the hospital for the set down and pick up only of patients and visitors.

Hospital Patient Liaison
The intensive care patient will be attended by a multi-disciplinary team. The Medical Team is led by the Intensivist in consultation with the appropriate medical and surgical specialist. Cardiac patients are managed by the admitting Physician. If you wish to speak with a member of the medical team please talk to the senior nurse on the shift in the first instance who can facilitate arrangements as necessary.
If you don’t speak or read English and need a language interpreter, or are hearing impaired and need a signing interpreter you have the right to access a free, qualified and confidential interpreter. Please notify the nurse to arrange this.

Finding the ICU
The Coffs Harbour Intensive Care Unit provides admission for patients who have health conditions requiring intensive care or cardiac care.
The Intensive Care Unit is located on Level 1.

Coffs Harbour Health Campus
A map of the hospital's location and layout is below.