Before my visit

Eastern Heart Clinic has contracts with all private health insurance funds. We are a no gap facility. Please confirm your health insurance details with us and your fund prior to your procedure.

If you have an excess or co-payment on your health insurance cover you may incur some out of pocket expenses.

Your doctor will explain your procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. You will then be asked to sign a consent form when you are with your doctor.

If you have not reviewed the consent form with your doctor yet, you can find a copy of the consent form for your procedure from our list of procedures here. If you are not sure of the exact name of your procedure, please check with your doctor’s rooms.

Please download and read this document. Your doctor will discuss this with you, if they have not already done so.

If you have any questions or concerns, or require any additional information about your procedure, please let your doctor know.

If you have access to a printer, please print your consent form and bring it with you on the day of your procedure, otherwise we will provide you with a printed copy on the day.

If you have already signed the consent in your doctor’s rooms, then please disregard this instruction.

You can learn more about your planned procedures here.

Please bring the following items with you in a small overnight bag:

You will be allocated a locker on arrival, so your personal belongings will be locked away and secure during your procedure. However, please do not bring large amounts of cash or valuables with you on the day.

Day stay patients (those not staying overnight) are normally at the clinic for at least six to eight hours from the time of admission to the time of discharge.

Please note that Eastern Heart Clinic is part of a tertiary referral centre and, from time to time, we need to prioritise emergency procedures. This may at times lengthen your stay at the clinic. If this happens on the day of your procedure, we’ll keep you updated of any changes or delays.

Your visitors are welcome to wait at the clinic but they can’t accompany you once you go in for your procedure. Most visitors leave once patients go in for their procedure, and then return either when they’re back in recovery or when they’re ready for discharge.

We’re happy to answer any questions your family members/carers might have, plus we’ll give you all an estimated time of discharge.

There are no special requirements before your procedure in terms of skin care, so just shower or bath as usual. However, please do not wear nail polish to your appointment.

All patients attending Eastern Heart Clinic are fasted prior to their procedure. Please follow the fasting instructions that are given to you when you ring us the day prior to your procedure.

Instructions:

• All patients must cease solid food six hours before their admission time
• All patients must cease clear fluids two hours before their admission time
• Clear fluids are NOT cloudy or milky drinks
• From two hours before your admission – nil by mouth

For example, if your admission time is 7:00 am (please tailor this to your admission time)

• You can eat food up until 1:00 am
• You can have clear fluids (water, black tea/coffee, clear juice etc) up until 5:00 am

We will confirm the time of your procedure and when you need to start fasting when you call the clinic the day before your procedure (please refer to our detailed instructions in the Before my visit patient guide.

Patients prescribed Warfarin

If you take the medication Warfarin you will need to consult with your referring cardiologist who will advise you if you need to stop taking your Warfarin three days before your procedure. Your cardiologist may also advise that you need to take a substitute anticoagulant (blood thinner). It is very important that you do not stop taking your Warfarin until you have discussed this with your cardiologist.

Patients prescribed Lasix

On the day of your procedure:

• If your procedure is scheduled for before 12:00 pm: Withhold your Lasix and bring in your tablets so staff can give them to you after your procedure
• If your procedure is scheduled for after 12:00 pm: you may take your Lasix

Patients with diabetes

On the day of your procedure:

If you are prescribed insulin we suggest you take half your regular insulin dose. Remind the booking staff that you are on insulin and we will attempt to schedule your procedure as early as possible.

• Insulin dependent (IDDM): You should take half (½) of your regular insulin dose (please bring in insulin)
• Non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) – tablet controlled: You should continue your medication as normal
• Non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) – diet controlled: Fast as per the instructions above

Other medications

Aspirin, Plavix, Prasugrel, Ticagrelor, Pradaxa, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban
Your cardiologist will provide advice regarding if and when to stop other medication. All other medications include Aspirin, Plavix, Prasugrel, Ticagrelor, Pradaxa, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban.

We will discuss your medications with you when you call the clinic the day before your procedure (please refer to our detailed instructions in the Before my visit patient guide.

Contact us one week in advance if you have special needs

So we can cater for your needs, please let us know at least one week in advance of your procedure if you:

• have special dietary needs eg vegetarian, gluten free or other
• need accommodation in Sydney (eg if you live outside of the Sydney metropolitan area)
• live alone or
• need an interpreter.

Please call our friendly team on 02 9382 0700 to discuss these requirements with us.

If you do not have any special needs, then you do not need to contact us at this time. Please just ring us the day before your procedure.

Contact us the day before your procedure for final instructions​

On the day before your procedure, please ring Eastern Heart Clinic on tel: 02 9382 0700 between 12 noon and 3pm to confirm your final arrangements.

We will tell you what time to arrive, and provide instructions on fasting and medications. If your procedure is on a Monday, please call on the Friday prior.

Eastern Heart Clinic is serviced by light rail, bus, taxi and Uber.

If you will be travelling to the clinic by public transport, please familiarise yourself with transport services and timetables in advance of the day of your procedure. You can check current routes and timetables and plan your trip with Transport NSW, or use a trip planning app on your phone (eg TripView or Opal Travel).

How to get to Prince of Wales Hospital from Central Station by light rail

The fastest way to get to Prince of Wales Hospital is via the Sydney Light Rail. Take the L2 Randwick line which stops at the High Street entrance to the hospital. You can learn more about light rail services and timetables here.

How to get to Prince of Wales Hospital by bus

If you plan to catch a bus to Eastern Heart Clinic, the following bus numbers stop near the Prince of Wales Hospital: Bus Route No. 314, 316, 317, 370, 372, 373, 376, 377, 400, 410, 418, M50.

We recommend using the bus stops on Arthur, Belmore and Avoca Streets where possible due to the steep hill walking up from Barker Street.

Plan and book flights (for country patients)

Please check your procedure information to see if there are any restrictions on flying after your procedure. Patients are generally advised not to fly on the day of their procedure, but please check instructions related to your specific procedure.

Please be aware that some airlines may place restrictions on patients flying after certain procedures, such as angioplasty and stent insertion.

If you need to travel home by air, our staff can provide you with advice in relation to your particular situation and procedure.

Book accommodation in Sydney (for country patients)

There are a number of accommodation options located close to the Prince of Wales Hospital.
The three venues below have in the past offered discounts for hospital patients. You will need to check on current arrangements and rates:

• The Blenheim, 26 Blenheim Street, Randwick, Tel: 02 8345 8400
• The Lurline Randwick, (Randwick Lodge), 211 Avoca Street, Randwick, Tel: 02 9310 0700
• The Centre, (Bed and breakfast), 14 Frances Street, Randwick, Tel: 02 9398 2211

We recommend researching options online, as there are a number of accommodation options available in the local area.

Investigate travel assistance, if needed (for country patients)

The NSW Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance to people who need to travel more than 200 kms one way to obtain inpatient or outpatient specialist medical treatment.

You can find out more about this scheme here, or access local assistance at these locations:

Bathurst
(02) 6339 5312

Dubbo
(02) 6841 2264

Lismore
(02) 6620 2168

Taree
(02) 6592 9229

Please make arrangements in advance to have someone at home with you (overnight) on the day of your discharge in the rare event you require medical assistance.

Eastern Heart Clinic, like most specialist centres, undertakes ongoing medical research. While at the clinic, you may be invited to participate in a research project. You can read more about these opportunities here.

We also invite you to familiarise yourself with your rights and responsibilities while in our care. You can learn more about:

• what you can expect from us
• the consent for your procedure/s
• your privacy
• your responsibilities in relation to your care &
• what to do if you have a problem or wish to give feedback about your care.

You can read more about these matters here.

Please contact the friendly team at Eastern Heart Clinic if you have any questions or concerns about your forthcoming procedure. You can contact us on Monday to Friday between normal business hours on tel: 02 9382 0700.

Please also read this important information before your visit:

• Day of my procedure
• After my visit
• Privacy & patient rights
• Patient feedback
• Patient satisfaction & safety
• About the clinic
• The team