Coming to hospital
Your hospital stay
King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) is in Subiaco, just a short walk away from the main shopping area on Rokeby Road and approximately five kilometres from the Perth CBD.
Nearby attractions include Subiaco Arts Centre (with gardens and a nature-based children’s playground), Subiaco Library and Subiaco Primary School which hosts a bustling Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.
Along with state-of-the-art medical facilities, features such as natural light, landscaped areas, lighting, colour and art promote healing and provide therapeutic effects for patients while nurturing a relaxing environment for visitors, staff and volunteers.
KEMH is proud to be a smoke-free site. Thank you for not smoking or vaping in any buildings or on our grounds.
Please read these 8 Simple steps to staying safe in hospital (PDF) while you’re with us.
The Western Australian Public Patients’ Hospital Charter explains your rights and responsibilities when using public hospitals and health centres in WA. For more information see Health Care Rights below.
General enquiries can be made via ward staff or the hospital helpdesk on (08) 6458 2222.
Below are some of the things you’ll need to know about when getting ready for and during your stay in KEMH. These include what to pack, internet access and the facilities available to you and your family.
During your stay
Hiring a TV
Each hospital bed has TV and radio access. It can be purchased at www.hillstv.com.au (external site) or by calling 1800 108 010. Private patients receive TV connection as part of their package.
ATM
An ATM is located across from the café on the ground floor.
Wi-fi and internet access
Two computers with free internet access are available for visitor use at the Consumer Library during opening hours (9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday). Free Wi-Fi is also available here.
Mobile phones, internet, photography, social media and videos
You and your visitors may use mobile phones, except during clinical assessments or when signs indicate mobile phones cannot be used. Using cameras, including those on mobile phones, is strictly prohibited in some areas and patients and visitors must comply with displayed signs. When using cameras in the hospital, please be respectful of others. You must get permission from a staff member to take their photo or video them. Staff and fellow patients have the right to refuse – permission must always be sought.
Photographs during labour and birth
In the Labour and Birth Suite, Family Birth Centre or Theatre:
- No flash photography – pictures only of mother / family and baby. No filming.
- Refrain from taking pictures of staff or procedures / operations.
In theatre:
- No texting or use of mobiles for calls.
Bringing your device or appliance
All electronic devices must be checked and tagged by hospital staff before plugging them into the electrical sockets in your room. This includes chargers and cables for mobiles, tablets and laptops as well as items such as hairdryers.
Smoking
Amenities and facilities
Sacred spaces and meeting places
The Chapel and adjoining Quiet Room are located on the First Floor, A Block (above the main entrance) and are open to all – regardless of belief – for meditation and prayer. Available 24/7. Find out more about our Pastoral Care services.
A Musalla or Salat Room (Muslim Prayer Room) is in the Lower Ground basement passageway, running East / West underneath A Block. From the main entrance, take the lift or stairs to Lower Ground, turn left and proceed some distance. It’s on the left. Available 24/7.
Moort Mandja Mia is an outdoor family gathering place on Hensman Road which acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Noongar (Whadjuk) people and welcomes women and their families to KEMH.
Ngalla Mia is a meeting place for Aboriginal women located on the lower Ground Floor of Agnes Walsh House. Aboriginal women are invited for a cuppa, a yarn and fun activities on Wednesdays from 10am to noon. Contact Janinne on (08) 6458 1123 or (08) 6458 2800.
The King Edward Memorial Hospital Art Collection is featured on the walls in the public areas. The Harry Cohen Gallery (Level 2, A Block) is open daily from 6am to 6pm and features regular exhibitions.
Library and free internet access
The Women and Newborn Health Library is packed with a wide range of books and publications covering wide-ranging subjects about women at all stages of life, including pregnancy, birth, newborns, babies, raising children and menopause. There’s also a small collection of fiction and foreign language books. These are available for borrowing for both patients and the public. Browse books from the collection at KEMH Library (external site).
The library has free WiFi and two computers with free internet access.
Opening hours: 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm Monday to Friday
Location: Ground Floor, main corridor past the café.
Tel: (08) 6458 1100
Email: kemh.hl@health.wa.gov.au
Public toilets
Public toilets are located along the hospital’s main corridor on the Ground Floor. Male and female toilets are on the same side of the corridor as the WIRF café. The male toilets are closest to the front foyer and the female toilets are between the café and the library. There are no public toilets on the wards.
All areas in the hospital are cleaned regularly. Should you notice an area requiring attention, please notify a staff member.
Crafts and activities
The Activity Coordination Service is available to all inpatients, but particularly those who are long-stay inpatients. This service is valuable for those from rural or remote areas who are removed from their usual environment and support networks.
A two-hour Craft and Activities Group for long-stay patients happens four days a week. For patients who can’t leave their rooms, the Activity Coordinator can set up an activity in their room.
Op Shop
KEMH volunteers run the Op Shop, which is on the lower ground floor behind the cashier’s office. It sells women’s and baby clothes plus blankets, wraps and throws. Money raised is donated to the hospital. Donations can be placed in the bin outside the shop or by calling the Volunteer Coordinator on (08) 6458 1437.
Location: Lower Ground Floor, outside Centenary House, below the café
Opening hours: 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday
Café and gift shop
Cafe
The café offers a range of hot and cold foods, sandwiches and rolls, snacks, drinks and take-home meals.
Location: Main corridor, Ground Floor
Gift shop
The gift shops sells stuffed toys, flowers, hampers, baby clothes and other suitable gifts. There’s also a small second-hand library for $2 a book.
Download the WIRF app (external site)
Opening hours: 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm Saturday and Sunday, closed on public holidays.
Pharmacy
The Pharmacy is on the Lower Ground Floor, B Block. This is where prescriptions are dispensed. Hours of service for outpatients are 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
The pharmacy is available to inpatients and outpatients but only prescriptions written on KEMH prescription stationery can be dispensed at the hospital. Check before leaving the hospital whether prescribed medications are best dispensed at the hospital.
If you are concerned about changes in your medications or think you have been given the wrong medication please talk to your treating nurse or doctor.
Western Australian Medical Museum
Step into the past and see how early medicine and dentistry was done. Displays include an iron lung, an operating theatre, a dental surgery, photographs and instruments. Based in the heritage-listed Harvey House (on the corner of Railway and Barker Roads) it was Perth’s first maternity hospital in 1916.
Hours: 10.30am to 4pm, Wednesdays (except for December and January)
Tel: (08) 6458 1506
Web: wamedicalmuseum.org.au (external site)
Entry fee applies – cash only.
Patient meals and bringing food from home
Patient meals
Hospital meals are prepared in-house, as per dietary and Australian safe food requirements, in conjunction with dietitians. Catering staff visit inpatients in the morning and afternoon to collect menus and address dietary requests.
Meals are served during the following periods:
Breakfast: 7.30am to 8am
Lunch: 12.15pm to 1pm
Dinner: 5pm to 5.45pm
Morning tea, afternoon tea and supper is served between meals.
Bringing food from home
You won’t have access to a refrigerator, microwave or oven during your stay in hospital. Perishable food brought into the hospital, which is not eaten immediately, should be put in the bin.
Some patients like to keep extra food in their rooms. Shelf-stable and pantry foods are permitted such as crackers, uncut fruit and lollies. Don’t keep food in your room which requires refrigeration, such as cold meats, dairy products and cooked vegetable or meat dishes.
Bringing food from home to someone in hospital can be appealing, however people who are unwell can be at higher risk of getting food poisoning and complications from food poisoning which can be caused by high-risk foods. It’s important to perform hand hygiene as you enter and leave the hospital.
When you bring food into the hospital, you are responsible for its safety. Some foods are considered high-risk and can cause severe illness, such as Listeria infection. If unsure, ask a nurse or midwife. Below is a list of foods which should not be brought into hospital:
- Pate
- Cold ready-to-eat chicken
- Cold meats such as polony, ham and salami
- Soft cheeses such as brie, camembert and fetta
- Packaged, pre-prepared fruit or vegetable salads
- Freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices
- Ready to eat cold, smoked or raw seafood such as smoked salmon, oysters, sashimi or cooked prawns
- Sushi
- Soft serve ice cream and thick shakes
- Tofu: soft, hard and tempeh
- Unpasteurised milk and unpasteurised milk products
- Raw egg foods such as home-made egg mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, uncooked cakes and desserts.
Raising concerns – making a CARE Call / Aishwarya's CARE Call
Call and Respond Early (CARE) gives you a pathway to call for assistance when you are concerned about your health or that of someone you care for.
Patient safety and wellbeing is an essential part of what we do. At KEMH we provide a clear pathway for when a patient or family member are really concerned about the health of someone they care for.
Take these steps
- Use the call bell or go to the nurses’ station and talk to your nurse, midwife or doctor regarding your concerns.
- If you’re still concerned, ask to speak to the nurse or midwife in charge of the shift.
- If you think it’s urgent or remain concerned and feel that you have not had an appropriate response, call 1800 792 621. You will need to provide the following information:
- Name of patient
- Reason for the call
- Ward and room
When shouldn't I make a CARE Call?
If you have a complaint or feedback about something other than the urgent clinical concerns about a patient, please speak to your nurse or visit our Compliments and complaints.
CARE Call in other languages
Simplified Chinese - CARE Call (PDF)
Preventing falls in hospital
Staff will assess your risk of falls on admission and again if your condition changes or if you move wards. Staff will discuss your personal risks for falling to reduce your risk in hospital.
Some mothers may have a risk of falling after having a baby. As a new mother you have an increased risk of falling if you:
- Are very tired, disorientated or drowsy.
- Have had an epidural, spinal, general anaesthetic, sedation or other pain relief.
- Have had bleeding during pregnancy, birth or in the postnatal period.
- Have certain medical conditions such as epilepsy, low blood pressure or diabetes.
- Are wearing badly fitting shoes or socks.
- Have visual or physical disability.
While in hospital you can use the following steps to avoid falling:
- Press the nurse call bell and wait for assistance when you require help.
- Remember to wear your prescribed glasses. Make sure you can see clearly by putting on your glasses before attempting to get up.
- Always use your walking aid or the assistance of another person when walking.
- Medications can have different side effects so if you feel dizzy, don’t get up.
- Take your time when getting up from sitting or lying down. Let staff know if you feel unwell or unsteady on your feet.
- Use the rails to get off the chair or the toilet. If you feel unsafe in the bathroom, remain seated and call for assistance.
- If unsteady, call a nurse to go to the toilet. Press the nurse call button and wait for assistance to walk back.
- Don’t lean on furniture, call a nurse for assistance.
- Sit down instead of standing while you are in hospital.
- Use a shower chair when showering.
- Wear safe footwear and walk around in non-slip shoes.
- Use walking aids when walking around the hospital.
- Don’t get up by yourself, call for a nurse.
- Familiarise yourself with your room and bathroom. Be aware of any hazards (e.g. spills and clutter) and tell staff when you see them.
- At night, use the light button on the call bell to turn the light on before getting out of bed. Turn the light on in the bathroom. If you fall, don’t try to get up, call for assistance. Don’t get up on your own, wait for staff to help you.
More information about Falls Management (external site).
What to bring to hospital
If you’re being admitted to the hospital, ensure you bring the following items:
- Any paperwork from the hospital or your doctor.
- Emergency contact details of your next of kin.
- All medications you are taking, in their original packaging if possible. Bring any Webster packs, dosettes or other dose administration aids. Make a written list and note your allergies. This includes vitamins, herbal medicines, eye drops, creams, patches and puffers etc. Your medications will generally only be used if the hospital doesn’t have them available. Medications brought into the hospital should be given to ward staff to be safely and appropriately stored. On discharge, your medications will be returned.
- Medicare card and / or your private health insurance card, Concession Card, Health Care Card, Repatriation Health Care Card or Safety Net Card.
- X-rays relating to your condition.
- Glasses, hearing aids, dentures, walking aids and any specialty equipment used at home.
If you’re staying overnight or longer, you should also bring:
- Sleepwear, underwear and footwear (slippers and shoes).
- Personal toiletries such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hairbrush and shaving equipment.
- A small amount of money for incidentals.
If you’re coming to KEMH to have your baby, bring the Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby book (PDF) and refer to it for what to bring to hospital as an obstetric patient.
Maternity patients must also bring:
- 1 x pack newborn nappies and baby wipes.
- Nursing bra and 1 x box of breast pads.
- 5 x packs of maternity or overnight pads.
- Baby soap, cotton wool balls and cotton buds.
- Baby clothes and blanket for going home.
- If choosing to formula feed, formula and feeding equipment.
- A rear-facing baby seat should be fitted if going home by car. Visit Kidsafe Australia (external site) for restraint guidelines and recommendations.
How much should I bring?
Space for personal items is limited so please consider this when packing. Pack your personal items in a small bag. Medium to large suitcases won’t fit in storage areas in patient rooms and will need to be taken away by a relative or friend. Long term patients may have more storage available and should speak to staff prior to admission.
Don’t bring valuables, jewellery or large sums of cash.
Hospital health
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is the most important factor in reducing infections. Your hands may look clean but germs are invisible and can be easily passed from our hands to others or our environment. Fit and healthy people can usually defend themselves against most germs. Healthy, unbroken skin is one of the main defences. Natural defences are often weakened during illness or after an operation so it’s very important to clean your hands – even if they look clean – whenever you visit someone in a healthcare facility.
Your healthcare worker should always perform hand hygiene in front of you. If you didn’t see them and are worried, don’t be afraid to ask.
Healthcare associated infections can result in:
- Illness
- A longer stay in hospital
- Slower recovery
- Additional stress for all concerned.
- After physical contact.
Preventing Hospital Associated Infection
What is a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)?
A HAI is an infection which occurs as a result of receiving health care or treatment at hospital or home, for example: surgical site infection, bloodstream infection related to an intravenous device, pneumonia or urinary tract infection related to a catheter. These types of infections are often preventable.
What is KEMH doing to prevent health care associated infections?
KEMH has a specially appointed Infection Prevention and Management team who follow best practice measures to prevent HAIs, such as:
- Monitoring infection rates such as infection from surgery, bloodstream and bacterial infections.
- Maintaining a clean hospital environment.
- Maintaining quality food standards.
- Promoting hand hygiene among staff, patients and visitors.
- Hand hygiene auditing and reporting.
- Providing antibiotics at the time of surgery.
- Conducting aseptic (germ-free) technique education, training and procedure auditing.
- Using properly sterilised equipment.
- Isolating patients with infectious illnesses.
- Ensuring healthcare staff wear protective clothing such as gowns, gloves and masks.
The Infection Prevention and Management team include a group of expert Clinical Nurse Consultants and Clinical Microbiologists who help protect patients from HAIs. Their number one priority is your safety. The team work with your healthcare team and use proven methods to ensure you remain safe from HAIs during your stay. They strive to keep the hospital community safe from infection.
How can I protect myself or my baby from getting a HAI?
- If you haven’t seen a healthcare worker who is caring for you wash their hands or use alcohol hand rub, ask them to do so.
- If you have a catheter in your bladder or drip in your vein, ask each day when it can be removed. Tell your doctor, nurse or midwife if it becomes painful or loose.
- If your room or the equipment in your room looks dirty, ask to have it cleaned.
- Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand rub (provided in your room and around the hospital) regularly.
What can your visitors do to protect you or your baby?
- Ask your visitors to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand rub when they arrive and when they leave.
- If your visitors are unwell, have a cold, diarrhoea or vomiting they must not come until they are better.
- Visitors must not touch drips, drains, dressings or other equipment around the bed.
How can I help to prevent a surgical site infection?
A surgical site infection (SSI) can be a healthcare associated infection. An SSI is an infection at the site of a surgical operation that is caused by the operation usually within 30 days of the procedure.
Prior to surgery
- If you smoke – stop smoking, at least until you have recovered from surgery.
- If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar levels under control.
- Tell your doctor, nurse or midwife if you have any other medical problems including allergies or have ever had a multi-resistant organism.
- Let your doctor, nurse or midwife if you have been hospitalised interstate or overseas within the last 12 months.
- Avoid alcohol and get plenty of rest before and after surgery.
- Obesity increases the risk of infection. Careful weight management and a healthy diet can help.
- Report any infection you have to your doctor, nurse or midwife.
- If you have elective surgery, shower with soap the morning of your surgery.
- You may also be offered a chlorhexidine body wash when you arrive and prior to surgery.
- Do not shave, wax or use hair removal cream near the surgery site. If required, your nurse or midwife will clip the area with special clippers.
- If you haven’t seen a healthcare worker who is caring for you wash their hands or use alcohol hand rub, ask them to do so.
After your surgery
- Wash your hands before and after touching your wound.
- Hospital staff should either wash their hands or use alcohol hand rub before touching you or your wound.
- Family or friends must not touch your wound or dressing.
- Your visitors must wash their hands or apply alcohol hand rub before and after visiting.
- When you go home, ask your midwife/nurse or doctor to explain everything you need to know about taking care of your wound or who to contact if there’s a problem.
Further information see Post-operative wound care advice (PDF).
Signs of infection
Some common symptoms of surgical site infection are:
- Fever.
- Redness, swelling and pain around the surgical site.
- Increased drainage or pus from the incision site.
If you notice any of these signs, please contact your medical team, the KEMH Emergency Centre or your GP, as advised by your surgical team. Most surgical site infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
KEMH Emergency Centre: (08) 6458 1431.
More information
During your hospital stay (external site)
Coming for surgery
Day surgery
The Day Surgery Unit operates 6.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Friday. If for any reason you need to cancel your admission, ring the bookings clerk weekdays between 8.30am and 4pm on (08) 6458 1309 as soon as possible.
Arrival time
Telephone the Day Surgery Unit on (08) 6458 1459 between 5pm and 6pm the evening before admission. They will confirm your admission time and advise whether your surgery is in the morning or afternoon. If your surgery is on a Monday please call between 5pm and 6pm the Friday before.
Where to go
Enter the hospital by the front entrance on Bagot Road and take the lifts in the front foyer to the second floor. Turn left and follow the signs to the Day Surgery Unit.
Further information see Day Surgery Unit Patient Information (PDF)
All other surgeries
For overnight and other surgeries, go to the Emergency Centre, located on the ground floor inside the main entrance of the hospital. Follow the sign to the triage nurse or midwife.
Smoking
Leaving the ward
Please inform the ward staff before leaving the ward at any time. For your safety, we request you don’t leave the hospital without your doctor’s permission.
If staying on Wards 3, 4 or 5 (maternity) please consider the following:
- Your baby should remain on the ward until discharged home, unless receiving medical treatment in another part of the hospital.
- Don’t give your baby to anyone who doesn’t have proper staff identification. You, or a designated family member, are always welcome to accompany your baby to other treatment areas within the hospital.
- If you leave your room/ward you need to consider who will look after your baby, i.e. a family member or close friend. Inform a midwife on the ward the name of the person who is looking after your baby.
Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine
The Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine is involved throughout the patient journey from pre-operative to peri-operative and post-operative care. Staff have a wide range of skills in all aspects of anaesthesia and provide the following services:
- Clinical anaesthesia
- Perioperative medicine
- Acute pain service
- Analgesia for women in labour
- Pelvic pain clinic
- Vascular access
- Teaching.
Extensively involved with crisis management, medical experts care for the critically ill in unstable environments and manage pain, nausea, fluid management and are available for reassurance or advice.
We provide 24-hour cover for medical emergencies and conduct regular pain and chronic pain rounds.
Health record
Details of your treatment and care are recorded in your health record and are regarded as strictly confidential. This record, including electronic information and radiographic images such as x-rays, will remain the property of King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and access is limited to the health professionals directly involved in your care.
Letters and information about the care provided to you are generally sent to your General Practitioner (GP) or other referring specialist.
Request a copy of your medical record
You may request a copy of your KEMH health record by emailing foi.kemh@health.wa.gov.au.
Before you are given access to your personal documents you will need to provide proof of identity. If you are seeking document(s) on behalf of another person, you will need to produce authorisation in writing.
Applications for access to documents are processed within 45 days of receipt of a valid application.
Read more about Freedom of Information at KEMH and how to Access my WA Health medical records at Healthy WA (external site).
More information
Office of the Information Commissioner Western Australia (external site)
Parking and public transport
Parking at and around KEMH
Parking directly outside KEMH on Bagot Road is only 30 minutes. This is useful for drop-offs or quick visits but is not enough time for your appointment.
Two-hour parking is available on some surrounding streets. They are at least a five-minute walk away, so take that into consideration. Parking is recommended in the patient/visitor carpark on Hensman Road or in a City of Subiaco carpark, as your appointment or visit may be longer than the time permitted on the surrounding streets.
Many roadside car bays use online payments via the EasyPark app which can be downloaded on your phone. The ticket machines also take cards and coins.
There are two ACROD bays in front of the hospital and two in the Hensman Road carpark. See map of disability parking bays, entry points and ramp access (PDF).
Parking contrary to any KEMH or City of Subiaco signs may result in a fine.
Public transport
Daglish (10 minute walk) and Subiaco (15 to 20-minute walk) train stations are the closest to KEMH. Buses also stop in front of the main hospital entrance. Contact Transperth on 13 62 13 or visit transperth.wa.gov.au (external site) for information on routes and timetables.
Pedestrians and cyclists
KEMH is located near the shared path running along the Fremantle railway line. See the City of Subiaco TravelSmart Map (PDF) for details of cycle routes or visit Department of Transport (external site) for Perth Bicycle Network maps. Bike racks are located next to Centenary House, near the Op Shop, accessible via Hensman Road.
Hospital map
Click on image for larger image.
Your rights and responsibilities when using public hospitals
The Western Australian Public Patients’ Hospital Charter explains your rights and responsibilities when using public hospitals and health centres in WA.
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (external site) describes what patients, or someone they care for, can expect when receiving health care. Read all about your healthcare rights (PDF).
Learn about the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights in languages other than English (external site).
Patients accessing mental health services
The Mental Health Act 2014 (external site) provides a number of extra rights for patients receiving psychiatric treatment. For more information contact the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (external site) or phone (08) 6553 3000.