Hospital in the Home

You may be admitted to Cabrini’s Hospital in the Home Unit (HHU) in different ways, depending on your condition and treatment.

If you would like to receive treatment in your home, you can discuss this type of care with one of the doctors or nurses on your ward, or your general practitioner.

Once you are connected with the service, the unit’s doctors and nurses will talk to you about your medical treatment and home environment. If you choose to be treated at home, and the unit has deemed you suitable for this type of care, you, or a member of your healthcare team, will be asked to sign a consent form and treatment plan.

When receiving care in the home, you are still considered a Cabrini patient. This means you will continue to be supervised by our health professionals, and benefit from the same excellent service.

The HHU team will arrange for nurses to visit you and deliver the treatment you require. You will also receive visits from our doctors who will assess your progress.

When your treatment finishes at Cabrini, our doctors will discharge you into the care of your general practitioner.

It is important to note that Cabrini retains responsibility for your treatment while you are in our care. We may need to advise you to temporarily stop activities that our healthcare team believes could hinder your treatment, such as: working, driving, playing sport, or social engagements. We will work with you to assess each situation, based on its potential impact on your recovery.

Receiving care through HHU is voluntary. A key part of the process is discussing with your caregivers whether it’s appropriate for you.

You will be cared for by our specially trained nurses and doctors, who work in Cabrini’s Hospital in the Home Unit (HHU).

They will store your medications, dressings, or other elements of your treatment regime in a locked equipment case, which is stored at your home for the duration of your care.

Our team of experts will closely record and assess your medical observations, and any changes in your condition will receive immediate attention.

Should you need any additional care or support, our team will help organise it through one of our preferred providers. This could include: making an appointment with an allied health professional, such as a physiotherapist, arranging home services or organising accommodation closer to the hospital.

We are committed to ensuring you receive the highest level of care, even when you leave Cabrini. When you are ready to be discharged, we will make sure you receive any necessary follow-up care by arranging for you to see your general practitioner, or specialist.

We understand that receiving care outside the hospital may be a daunting prospect for some patients. This is why our team of nurses and doctors are always here to help. In the case of an emergency, Cabrini’s HHU staff are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If your condition unexpectedly deteriorates, you become unstable or develop a complication, our skilled staff will change your treatment plan immediately. In some circumstances, you may need to return to hospital to continue your treatment. In these instances, you will be taken to hospital by ambulance. When you become a HHU patient, our staff will talk to you about any concerns you may have and discuss the emergency plan included in your information pack.

The cost of our care will depend on your private health insurance policy and there may be out-of-pocket charges. You will receive the same level of care in the HHU as you would receive in one of our wards, so the charges will be the same. We encourage you to speak to your health insurance provider or one of our staff for more information about potential costs.