East Melbourne COVID-19 Update
The safety of our patients, staff and doctors is our priority.
To optimise safety and minimise infection transmission risk for all patient, staff and visitors, including protecting vulnerable patients from potential exposure to COVID-19, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital continues to follow the key public health advice and recommended Department of Health guidelines.
Important COVID-19 information
Visitor Restrictions
Visitor Restrictions are currently in place at all St. Vincent Private Hospital Melbourne sites. We encourage all visitors to adhere to the following COVID-19 safety measures:
- Please do not attend the hospital:
- if you are unwell, have a temperature, or any signs of respiratory illness,
- if you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 7 days,
- if you are living with an active COVID-19 positive person, or
- if you have been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case within the last 7 day’s
- Masks are no longer mandatory in non-patient care areas or public access areas (e.g. ground floor foyer) across our hospials.
- Masks must still be worn by staff and visitors in all clinical and patient care areas, including the patient’s room.
- All visitors over the age of 8 years are required to wear a mask in patient facing areas.
- A RAT test may be required for visitors with a mask exemption or other identified risk.
- Please ensure you use the hand sanitiser provided on entry to the hospital and before entering a patients’ room.
Visiting Hours
Patients may have 2 visitors at a time, during visiting hours.
General Visiting hours are from 12-8pm
Maternity Visiting hours are from 2-4pm, and then 7-8pm
Before coming to hospital
Please contact your treating specialist before coming to hospital, if:
- You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 following your last consultation within the four weeks prior to your planned admission
- You are living with an active COVID-19 case or you have been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case within the 7 days prior to your planned admission
- You have been tested for COVID-19 and are waiting to receive the results (except for tests due to surveillance testing obligations)
- You have signs and symptoms of respiratory illness such as fever (37.5 or above), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue.
Prior to arrival to the Hospital:
- Please ensure you have completed a RAT on the day of your admission. Please bring evidence of the negative RAT result (a photo on your mobile phone, which will be dated, if you are able).
- When you arrive to the Hospital, surgical face masks will be available. Please stop at the entrance to put a face mask on to enter the Hospital.
- Our reception team will assist with your admission, check all of your details and provide you with directions for your admission to the Hospital.
Prior to your admission - COVID testing requirements
All patients are required to conduct a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at home on the day of your admission to hospital. When you arrive for your admission you will be asked to provide evidence of your test result (a photo on your mobile phone and date will suffice). If you are unable to provide evidence of a negative test, you will be required to have a COVID test on admission. Any carer / paediatric parent / guardian / partner or support person staying for the duration of the patient stay will also be required to undertake a RAT test on the day of admission and provide the test result on admission.
If you have recovered from COVID-19, you aren’t required to get tested or isolate if you are re-exposed to a case within the 5 weeks after testing positive.
Any patient that returns a positive RAT result on arrival will be advised to go home and isolate (this may differ for Maternity patients), and to report their Rapid Antigen Test result to Reporting your result | Coronavirus Victoria.
Accompanying Patients on Admission:
Due to our current visitor restrictions, we advise that patients are allowed one support person (outside of normal visiting hours) and broader families will not be able to wait in the admission area with their loved one. Our staff will support our patients and nominated support person during the admission process.