Spinal Cord Injury Inpatient Unit

The specialist services provided by the Spinal Injury Unit are designed to enrich lives through personalised support with the aim being to empower  clients with the skills and confidence to live life as independently as possible.

We understand that people are all individuals and we appreciate that everyone’s circumstances are different. We respect the right of each person to set their own clear and meaningful goals and will do all we can to help you achieve them.

Our multidisciplinary team of health professionals will work closely with you to assess current level of function, assist in establishing goals, develop a tailored program and then regularly assess progress.

Your team will help you to understand and manage the changes to your body that are often impacted by SCI. These can include bladder and bowel function; respiratory function; skin integrity and pressure area management; pain and spasticity management; sexual health, function and fertility; and mental health.

Your team will work with you to determine your equipment needs in relation to mobility, self-care and continence, community access and leisure.

Rehabilitation planning meetings are held regularly and provide an opportunity for members of your rehabilitation team to meet with you and your family and/or friends. During these meetings, your treatment, progress and discharge plans will be discussed. This is an excellent opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

While you are a client at Royal Rehab you will be allocated a key contact person to assist you for the duration of your stay. This staff member will be your main point of contact for administrative and discharge planning.

Nutritious, balanced meals are planned and prepared on-site for all clients at Royal Rehab. A large choice of food is on offer to accommodate individual preferences, religious and allergy requirements.

Breakfast: 8:00 am

Lunch: 12:30 pm

Dinner: 5:30 pm

There is a washer and dryer available for personal use whilst on the ward.

Televisions are fitted in individual patient rooms and communal lounge areas for the comfort of all users. Free WIFI is available for our clients. Please ask a member of your treating team for login/password details.

Research shows that there are no safe levels of smoking. Smoking is only permitted on Royal Rehab grounds in the designated smoking area at the rear of the main building near the sports courts on Recreational Circle.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere else on our campus including in any of our vehicles, buildings and grounds apart from the designated area. Your treating team can arrange access to suitable nicotine replacement therapy for the duration of your stay.

The health and wellbeing of our clients, staff members and the wider community is our top priority. We encourage visitation of friends and loved ones.

Royal Rehab Ryde continues to monitor and take precautionary measures to strictly follow the guidelines of relevant authorities including the NSW Ministry of Health regarding COVID-19 and other acute respiratory illnesses.

Inpatient Visiting Hours:12:00pm till 8:00pm daily.

Visitors are encouraged to:

• Regularly use hand sanitiser which is available throughout our hospital
• During periods of high community transmission, comply with COVID-19 testing requirements at the time of your visit

Visitors showing any flu-like signs or symptoms are requested to postpone their visit, and not to enter the hospital.

Please note these guidelines may change at any time. We encourage visitors to use telephone and information technology where possible to check in with loved ones.

We appreciate your cooperation. Should you have any questions or concerns, please speak with one of our managers or call our team on (02) 9808 9222

Your discharge will be discussed with your treating team. Due to the complex nature of spinal cord injuries, there may be requirements for home modifications, care and equipment to be organised prior to discharge. We respect that each of our clients is an individual and everyone’s circumstances are different. Our team will work with you to plan your discharge to be as smooth as possible.

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights sets out the fundamental principles of healthcare. You can download a copy of the charter here.

The charter is available to everyone in the healthcare system. It allows patients, consumers, families, carers and providers to share an understanding of the rights of people receiving health care.

Patients, consumers, healthcare providers and health service organisations all have an important part to play in achieving healthcare rights and contributing to a safe and high-quality healthcare system.

Feedback and complaints

Royal Rehab welcomes all forms of feedback including complaints. Our priority is to continuously be improving our service provision. We treat all feedback and any complaints professionally and confidentially.

In the first instance if you have feedback or a complaint, we encourage you to speak with the Clinical Operations Manager.

Should your matter not be resolved to your satisfaction, please contact the Quality & Risk Manager on 9808 9222 or email feedback@royalrehab.com.au. Every effort will be made to address your concerns and find a satisfactory outcome. If you would like to provide feedback, you can also fill out our feedback forms here.

In the event, that your complaint remains unresolved and relates to Royal Rehab public inpatient services, you can contact the Health Care Complaints Commissioner, details of which are available www.hccc.nsw.gov.au.