COVID-19 Status

COVID-19 Information

• I am visiting a patient who is staying overnight or longer

  Overnight patients: Visiting hours are from 12 midday – 7 pm Monday to Friday and 1 pm – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

  End of life support: will be able to receive visitors as per the hospital visiting hours.

  No visitors are allowed for patients awaiting COVID-19 test results.

  All visitor restrictions are at the discretion of the patient’s treating team.

• I am attending the hospital for a day surgery admission

  Day surgery patients are kindly asked to be dropped off at main reception. Your nominated contact person will be phoned with your expected time of discharge and collection arrangements. A loved one’s journey through the hospital, from admission to discharge can be tracked with their patient case number here.

• I am attending the hospital for an appointment

  When confirming your appointment with your doctor’s rooms, please check if you are able to have a support person accompany you. This is being managed on a case-by-case basis, dependant on the size of the waiting area.

• QR Code COVID-19 Screening

  We have implemented QR Code COVID-19 screening at the entrance to our hospital for the following categories of attendees:

  • Visitors
  • Patients
  • Contractors
  • Medical reps
  • Delivery people

  The purpose of this new tool is keep all our patients, visitors, doctors and staff safe, and to streamline the COVID-19 screening process for visitors, patients and other attendees to the hospital.

  This new screening system requires the above categories of attendees to the hospital to answer some simple questions including:

  • Over the past 14 days, have you returned from overseas (not including New Zealand), interstate, or from a declared COVID-19 hotspot?
  • In the past 14 days, have you been in close contact with a person who has Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
  • Are unwell or sick with symptoms such as a fever (37.5 degrees or more), a cough, runny nose, sore throat, breathing difficulties and/or loss of taste and/or loss of smell?
  • Are you awaiting a COVID-19 test result?

  Signage at our hospital entrances clearly explains how to complete a QR Code Contactless Screening tool using a smartphone before entering St Stephen’s Hospital.

  Once the user has answered all questions, their phone will display either a green or amber colour.

  If the scan returns a green colour, the person can show a staff member their result and enter the Hospital, assuming their temperature doesn’t register 37.5 degrees celsius or above on our thermal cameras.

  If the Contactless Screening tool returns an amber colour, the person will need to speak to a staff member to determine why they have received that result and whether it is safe for them to enter the hospital.

  All patient and visitor data collected will be stored safely and securely and managed in accordance with Public Health Directions and Orders, and the UnitingCare Privacy Policy (click here to read).

  If the visitor does not have a smartphone: Our screening staff at the hospital entry will fill out the screening information with the visitor.