The Western Health Day Procedure Units provide an excellent service both to the inpatient and outpatient population of Western Health. The units are proud to have a dedicated group of people working cohesively to provide a service that not only recognises the cultural diversity of the community but can also address their needs as an individual. Day Procedure Unit provides immense learning opportunities to everyone within our departments giving staff the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally.
Williamstown Day Procedure Unit aspires to uphold the values of Western Health
Compassion: we care about the patients we look after, about the work that we do and we care about each other
Accountability: staff understand the responsibility when caring for patients
Respect: recognition of the need to be courteous, friendly and respectful to everyone at all times
Excellence: the unit strives for excellence in all aspects of work
Sincerity: to ensure that DPU is a safe place for staff and patients
Please Click here for Guidelines for Patients attending Day Procedure Unit.pdf (51KB)
ADMISSIONS PATIENT JOURNEY
All patient attending Williamstown DPU must be admitted. Admissions is divided into specific areas for the various medical specialities and different theatres. There is a mixture of both Clerical and nursing staff in the DPU / Admissions area.
Presentation
All Patients including those who are going directly to the Wards are initially seen by the Clerical staff to ensure that all paper work is completed in accordance with hospital policy.
Admission
The patient will be met by a member of the nursing team whose role is to monitor the patient from admission to discharge and to ensure that they receive the right care whilst at Western Health.
Nursing staff will discuss with the patient their medical condition ensuring that nothing has changed significantly since the patient was consented for their procedure.
It is important to remember that ALL patients who receive any form of sedation must be escorted home by a responsible adult and that this person is required to stay with the patient for twenty-four hours.
Theatre
Most patients walk to theatre however, if required, patients can be transported using a hospital trolley. All patients will be dressed in a gown, theatre hat and 2 pairs of overshoes prior to going to theatre.
Staff
Day Procedure Unit has a varied staff skill mix including specialist trained
Division 1 Registered Nurses
Division 2 Registered Nurses
2 Admission Clerks
2 PSA
WORK AREA
RECOVERY
Patients who are well enough to go home after their surgery/ procedure on the same day come to DPU.
Chung's modified scoring system is used to determine whether a patient is ready to go home post operatively. Everyone is treated on an individual basis unless the doctor/surgeon has specified particular instructions to be followed. The nurse caring for this patient is responsible for contacting the friend/relative to collect the patient.
PROCEDURES
Flexible and Rigid Cystoscopy
Carpal Tunnel Release
Arthroscopies
Tonsillectomy
Ear tubes
Paediatric Surgery
Varicose Veins
Hernia Repair
Vasectomies
Orthopaedic Surgery
Plastic Surgery
DISCHARGE PROCESS
Prior to discharge, patients will receive from the Discharge nurse their post operative care information; follow up appointments and an education pamphlet. Once the patient is ready and a friend/relative has arrived they will then be discharged.
The discharge nurse is responsible for contacting the surgical patients who attended DPU the day before. DPU do this as part of continuum of care