Your stay
Enquiries about your health
Family and friends can call the hospital on (07) 3646 8111 and ask to be transferred through to your bedside phone or ward reception. To protect your privacy and confidentiality, staff will not provide specific medical information about you.
Your contact people
During your admission we ask you to nominate a contact person and a next of kin who may play a key role in your care. With your permission we will discuss your progress and condition with the people you designate and not with anyone else.
Virtual visits
Technology makes it easy to stay in touch remotely, and we really encourage you to stay connected through phone, text, email, social media or video-chat.
If you’re new to video-chat, we have created some guides on how to best use your device to keep in touch. You can even use our free WiFi. Find out how to connect a patient to Wifi and download video call applications for free
Patient entertainment
Free patient WiFi
A free patient Wi-Fi service is available for patients and their families at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. The Wi-Fi will allow you to stream entertainment and stay connected to friends and family.
The free service works on any Wi-Fi enabled device and is available 24/7. Don’t forget to bring your laptop, mobile phone or other Wi-Fi enabled device when you come to hospital.
Two easy steps to connect
- Select the MetroNorth-PatientWiFi network on your device.
- Read the Metro North Wi-Fi Internet Terms of Use. Should you agree and accept you will be connected to the free WiFi service.
Patient Entertainment Platform
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital has launched a patient entertainment platform myStay@RBWH to help patients connect to a range of free-to-air entertainment and music options, health and wellness tools and hospital information during their hospital stay.
Please note that the Patient Entertainment Platform contains links to external websites, therefore you may be required to create a personal log-in to access the content. Many of these websites are completely free, however some require a paid subscription. Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital does not supply paid streaming services to patients.
Televisions
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital is currently transitioning from physical televisions to the digital patient entertainment platform myStay@RBWH outlined above. You may have access to a physical television while in hospital, however this cannot be guaranteed and we strongly recommend you bring your own digital device with you. Free to air television will continue to be available in patient lounges and common areas of the hospital.
View more information:
Room information
All our wards accommodate both public and private patients. There are no wards specifically for private patients only. Wards consist of single and shared rooms and are allocated depending on clinical need.
Call button
If you require help, you can alert our nursing staff by pressing a button located at your bedside. You will be shown how to use this button by the staff on the ward.
Electrical appliances
You may bring small electrical appliances such as a shaver or hair dryer to hospital if you wish. It is necessary to have these items checked and tagged as electrically safe by a certified electrician prior to admission. Faulty equipment may interfere with the operation of vital medical equipment.
The hospital does not accept responsibility for damage to, or personal injury from, electrical items you bring with you.
Dentures, glasses and aids
Your items can be easily misplaced in a busy environment. It might be helpful to name your items. Please bring a container or bag to store your dentures, glasses or hearing aids. Ask staff if you need a denture container.
Newspapers and magazines
Our volunteers usually visit wards with a trolley and sell newspapers and magazines to patients, but due to COVID-19, this service has temporarily been suspended. There is a newsagency located on Level 1 of the Ned Hanlon Building.
Medications
Your healthcare team will work together to select the most appropriate medication for your care.
Meals
We serve a variety of healthy and nutritious meals that meet therapeutic and religious dietary requirements. You can discuss food and drink options each day when the dietetic assistant visits to take your menu selections using our electronic meal ordering system. Ask our nursing staff if you need to speak to a dietitian. Please advise staff if you have a food allergy.
We provide meals at the following times:
- Breakfast 6.45am-8.00am
- Morning tea 9.30am-10.15am
- Lunch 11.40am-1.00pm
- Afternoon tea 2.45pm-3.30pm
- Dinner 4.40pm-6.00pm
- Supper 7.00pm-7.45pm
Ordering meals
Patients have the option to order meals using their own device.
If you are unable to order a meal online using the app, a Dietetic Assistant may assist you to take a meal order. Please note if a meal order has not been placed, a suitable choice will be made for you by our Food Service team. Your clinical needs, dietary requirements and food allergies will be taken into consideration.
How to order
Start by visiting the MyStay@RBWH meal ordering page. This will provide detailed instructions on how to access the meal ordering app.
You will need:
- Our Hospital Facility ID – “RBWH”
- Your date of birth and UR number (your UR number can be found on your admission tag, usually on your wrist)
Family and friends can order on behalf of a patient using the above details.
- Go to the the MyStay@RBWH meal ordering page and click the CBORD Patient app login
- Click “Create an Account“
- Select “Patient” or “Family or Friend” (if ordering on behalf of a patient)
- Check the box “I am at least 13 years of age” if applicable
- Click “Next“
- Enter Hospital Facility ID “RBWH“
- Click “Next“
- Enter your “Date of Birth” and “Medical Record Number (MRN)” – this is the UR number displayed on your admission tag (usually on your wrist)
Note: Date format is MM DD YYYY. Please enter the Month first. - Click “Next“
- Click “Skip” when asked to enter your Email and Password (creating an account will prevent you from using the application at other hospitals/facilities)
You may now begin ordering your meals.
We understand some patients prefer their own food. Please note we do not take responsibility for food that is brought in by visitors for patients. We advise visitors who wish to bring food for patients to choose low risk food and check with staff before giving to their relative.
Food and cafe options are located on the hospital grounds, serving freshly brewed coffee, gourmet rolls, sushi and cakes
Food and drink vending machines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week around the hospital.
Level 1 has fresh fruit and meals that can be served cold or heated in the supplied microwave.
Bringing flowers to patients
Flowers and potted plants are a lovely gift for patients. For patient safety reasons, we cannot allow flowers or potted plants in these areas:
- Intensive Care (4A)
- Burns (4C)
- Haematology (5C)
- Infectious Diseases Wattlebrae (6C)
- Neurosurgery (8AS). Some patients are allowed, please check with the ward first.
Mail is delivered to wards on weekdays. Any mail received after you have been discharged will be redirected to your postal address.
Send mail to patients here:
c/ Ward (insert ward)
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Butterfield Street
HERSTON QLD AUSTRALIA 4029
Your treatment team
During your hospital stay, you will be cared for by a team of health professionals which may include doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers and support staff.
Teaching and research
As a leader in teaching and research, we work closely with universities to train future healthcare professionals.
With supervision from a staff member, you may be asked if you are willing for a student to observe or examine you. You may also be asked to take part in a research project. You are under no obligation to participate and your choice will not affect the care you receive. Your information will remain strictly confidential.
Patient Pet Friendly Area
A special area at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital exists for patients to receive a visit from their much-loved pets while they are staying in hospital. The Patient Pet Friendly Area was created to provide an opportunity for patients to receive a visit from their pet. Research has shown that pet interaction provides numerous health benefits for recovering patients.
Patients and their families are encouraged to visit the area with their pets and should speak to their nurse before leaving the hospital. Pets brought into the area are the responsibility of the person who brought them to RBWH.
The fenced Patient Pet Friendly Area is located opposite Joyce Tweddell Building, beside the Centre for Clinical Nursing. Please ask a staff member to help you find this area.