If your child is coming to hospital, there are some items you will need to bring with you. These are listed below.
You may also choose to bring electronic devices like mobile phones, laptop computers and tablets. Don’t forget to pack your charger. You may also wish to bring a small amount of money if you anticipate being able to take short trips out of the ward to the café.
We do not accept responsibility for lost valuable items. Storage space are limited. Whilst Centenary Hospital for Women and Children is a safe environment, to save the stress of items getting lost it is best to leave valuable items at home.
If you have brought something valuable to the hospital and you are unable to get someone to take it home for you, please ask your nurse to store it in the safe until someone can take it home for you or until you leave hospital.
If you are not an Australian citizen and do not have a Medicare card please bring your passport, visa, insurance information and proof of address. Depending on which country you are from, you may need to pay for your hospital stay.
Documents
If applicable to you:
- Any letters or correspondence we have sent you about your child’s admission.
- Medicare card.
- Contact details for your child’s General Practitioner (GP), next of kin and carer.
- Health Direction, Statement of Choices or Guardianship documents. We will make copies and give you back your original.
- Any X-rays and scans relevant to the treatment your child is coming to hospital for.
- Private health fund details if you have one.
- Details of any health professionals you see privately, such as a physiotherapist or naturopath.
Medicines
If applicable to you, please bring your child’s usual medicines with you. This will help us know what medicines your child usually takes.
Our nursing staff may ask that someone take these home for you once we have the information we need. If you don’t have someone who can do this, we will store your medicines until you leave hospital.
Bring your child’s medicines in their original packaging. If you have a Webster-Pak or dose administration aid, bring them along.
Medicines include:
- tablets and capsules
- mixtures
- inhalers and puffers
- creams, ointments, and patches
- sprays
- injections
- any medicine bought over the counter without a prescription from a pharmacy or supermarket
- vitamins, herbal or alternative medicines.
Personal Items
Here are some things you will need to bring with you. Depending on the age of your child some items may not be relevant.
- Comfortable pyjamas. You may need a couple of changes of pyjamas. Button-up shirts can be easier to put on in hospital.
- Underwear and socks.
- Dressing gown.
- Slippers or easy slip-on shoes. Avoid loose footwear and socks with poor grip as these can increase your child’s risk of trips and falls.
- Comfortable, easy to put on casual clothes (for children who will be up and about).
- Toiletries: hairbrush or comb, soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Roll-on deodorant for older children and any other required hygiene products.
- Comfort item, such as a teddy and blanket, favourite toy or book.
- If your child has a dummy/pacifier or is in nappies, remember to bring these.
- For bottle and formula fed children - we can supply some brands of teats and formulas. Please bring any particular brands you use, and we can prepare it for you. We do provide bottles.
Parents and carers don’t forget to pack for yourself. We suggest comfortable clothing and shoes, your own pyjamas and toiletries and books or magazines.
If your child is staying for more than a day or two you will need to have dirty clothes taken home to be washed there, and more clean clothes brought in. Please tell us if you don’t have someone who can do this for you.
What not to bring
Do not bring things like:
- large sums of cash or valuable items
- electrical items like hairdryers, hair straighteners, televisions, or fridges
- alcohol or tobacco products
- perfume or highly scented toiletries.
You can download and print the list of What to pack your child for hospital [PDF 148kB]