Hospital

The Hills Clinic Kellyville

Admission to the Hospital

The first step towards arranging admission to the hospital is to talk to our admissions officer Marcus Whelan, either over the phone or by making an appointment to organise an assessment. This assessment will help us understand your situation and how we can help you. Following the assessment process you will be placed on a waiting list for admission. For urgent cases we endevour to arrange admissions the same day orthe next day. For non urgent admissions we will endevour to arrange an admission within the week.

If you are not currently under the care of a psychiatrist who works at the hospital, one will be allocated to you. This is done based on your presenting problem and psychiatrist availability. Before admission you will also need to provide us with, your health insurance details and a doctors referral.

On admission you will be greeted and shown around the hospital. A patient handbook will be provded to help orientate you to the workings of the hospital, giving information such as, program times, meal times, visiting hours etc. After a tour of the hospital, you will be interviewed by both the medical staff and nursing staff to complete your admission.

Within a day of arriving at the hospital you will also meet with your psychiatrist who will review your notes and conduct thier own assessment. Once this is done an individualised program will be developed based on your presenting problems and your goals. It is expected that most patients will stay at the hospital for approximately three weeks. During this time we hope to identify key contributors to your problems and set a plan towards your recovery. Treatment plans will include a combination of psychological treatment and medications.

What happens after my admission

The hospital program follows a timetable of activities and it is expected that everyone who is admitted follows this routine. This usually means waking up by 7am and preparing yourself for the day. After breakfast there is a community group meeting to discuss daily activites and after this meeting therapy programs start.

Delicious, fresh meals break up the day but you can expect to be kept busy for most of the time. In addition to the group therapy, patients will be visited by their psychiatrist at least twice a week. These are usually individual sessions but may also involve meeting with family members or other significant people in your life.

After the days’ program is over, you will have some free time to relax. There are some voluntary evening programs also available and many of our patients have benefited significantly from the additional programs offered. During free time you may wish to receive visitors, socialise in the patient lounge areas or simply spend time reflecting on the days events in you room.

The Hills Clinic has single and share (double) rooms available. All bedrooms are very comfortable and include; a hotel style custom made King single bed designed for a great night’s rest, individually controlled ducted air conditioning, private ensuites, a 32″ LCD flat screen TV, lockable wardrobe, desk, as well as access to a private patio area leading to the garden.

Requesting inpatient/hospital leave

Leave off the hospital grounds may be granted by your doctor depending on your individual needs. Leave will only be allowed for constructive and therapeutic reasons. It is likely that in the first week of your admission that leave will be restricted, to help you focus on the program and to allow staff to fully assess your situation.

Driving while at the clinic is not allowed and patients are frequently having their medication adjusted and that this may lead to decreased alertness. Patients may also be very emotional and this may make driving a car unsafe. We discourage you from driving yourself to the hospital, but if this is unavoidable then you will be required to give staff your car keys on arrival.

 Amenities available at the hospital

We have tried to make the hospital as comfortable as possible, as we appreciate you will be away from home for a long period of time. We welcome you to fully utilise all amenities available, however, please follow the guidelines and always show respect for other patients who are recovering at the facility.

Laundry: 

While all bed linen and toweling is supplied by the hosiptal, patients are responsible for the care and laundering of their own garments. We advise where possible that you send laundry home with your family. Where this is not possible you can use the hospital domestic laundry. We ask you only use the laundry in your free time and before 9pm as to not disturb other patients.

Gymnasium:

A gym with exercise equipment is available at the hospital. Before patients use the gym, you must receive a fitness to exercise clearance by our treating medical doctor. Additionally, all patients wishing to use the gym must also participate in a training program conducted by The Hills Clinic gym instructor. This is to ensure you are trained to use all gym equipment safely.

Patient Kitchenette:

Coffee, tea, filtered water and light snacks are available for patients in the kitchenette located in the patient lounge room.

What to bring to hospital

Clothing:

We encourage you to wear comfortable and casual clothes during your inpatient stay. We ask that you restrict nightware to the confines of your bedroom and wear day clothes in all common areas. Footwear is required to be worn at all times. Patients are also encouraged to bring a hat and art/gardening shirt.

Medicines:

It is important that patients bring in all medication that they regularly take with then to the hospital. Please do not bring old medication to the hospital that you are no longer taking. In addition, any medication you bring into the clinic, including complementary, natural, over the counter and herbal substances also need to be declared at the time of arrival. These medicines will need to be dispensed by nursing staff during your admission and returned to you when you are discharged.

Toilteries:

It is recommended that patients bring in thier own toiletries to reduce the risk of allergies that may arise from using different brands of products while at the hsopital. These items will be inspected by staff on admission.

Personal belongings and luggage check:

To ensure that we maintain a safe environment for our patients, staff and guests at The Hills Clinic, all patient belongings (including pockets) are checked on arrival. Checks can also be requested by staff at any time where there are concerns for the patient’s own safety or the safety of others. It is our policy to check not only new patients but also patients returning from hospital leave.

Valuables:

Please refrain from bringing valuable belongings and large sums of money during your inpatient stay. We instead encourage you to leave or send any of these items home. If you choose to keep valuable items or large amounts of money during your inpatient stay then you are responsible for all your personal items as The Hills Clinic accepts no liability.

Cameras & Photography:

We respect patient privacy and confidentiality and for that reason do not permit the use of any photography at The Hills Clinic. Please do not bring cameras to the clinic.

Prohibited Items:

All alcohol and illicit drugs are prohibited at The Hills Clinic. Please ensure that you declare any substances that you are unsure about with your admitting nurse. Patients and visitors are prohibited from bringing the following items onto The Hills Clinic site:

  • Open razor blades
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Metal nail files
  • Mirrors
  • Mouthwash as they contain alcohol
  • Perfume/aftershave and any aerosol cans such as deoderants and hairspray
  • Flammable agents – lighters, kerosene
  • Any objects made of glass
  • Weapons of any description including knives etc
  • Alcohol
  • Illicit drugs
  • All prescribed and non-prescribed medications – please declare at check in
  • Sports or exercise equipment
  • Cameras/Video/Photography equipment
  • DVD Players (there is one available in the patient lounge)
  • Hair Dyes/Waxing products/Hair Dryers/Straightners – hairdryers are provided by The Hills Clinic on request.

Electrical Items:

On admission, and during your stay, you are requested to present any personal electrical items to the admitting staff to determine safe use at the clinic. Any electrical items that cannot be used in the clinic can be left with staff for safe-keeping or sent home with your family or friends. It will not be possible for patients to have electrical items with fixed power cords in their rooms. Any loose cords that are required to power/charge electrical items must also be handed in on admission. Staff will attempt to assist you whenever possible to charge electrical items when requested.

Personal Mobile Phones and Laptops:

We have made allowance for the use of mobile phones and laptops at the hospital, as we understand they are a part of our everyday lives. We are also aware however, that phones and computers are a frequent source of distraction and stress for some patients so we ask that phones and lap tops are not used during the therapy hours.

We also ask that all mobile phones and lap tops are completely turned after 10:30pm. Please be advised that all loose cords required to charge these items can not be left unattended in your rooms and will need to be left at the nurses station on admission. Please also note that cameras and recording devices that are attached to phones and laptops, are not to be used while in the hospital.

Meals

All patient meals are freshly prepared and cooked in The Hills Clinic kitchen daily and are served in the dining room. Meal times have been arranged around our treatment programs. We ask that all meals are consumed in the dining room. Please refer to our dining hours listed below:

  • Breakfast 7:00am – 9:00am
  • Morning Tea 10:30am
  • Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm
  • Afternoon tea 4:00pm
  • Dinner 6:00pm – 7:00pm
  • Supper 8pm (provided for at the patient kitchenette)

During visiting hours, guests are welcome to purchase their own meal and join their patients for dinner in the dining room during weekdays and any meal on the weekend. Please ensure you let nursing or kitchen staff know the number of visitors that will be joining you for a meal at least one day prior to dining.

Programs

The Hills Clinic Kellyville, offers innovative, evidence based programs that are unique to our hospital. The therapy team delivering the programs are senior psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists who bring a great deal of experience and expertise.

Inpatient Programs

Mood and Anxiety Disorders Treatment Program – A 15 module training program delivered over 21 days. In addition to core modules, the programs are individualised to suit a patient’s specific requirements with supplementary modules that are prescribed by the treating psychiatrist. Supplementary modules may include DBT skills training, process group therapy, horticulture therapy and art therapy.

Addictions Treatment Program- This program incorporates a medically supervised detoxification, with a 15 module rehabilitation training program, based on the revolutionary SMART Recovery Program (c). This program is a non-12 Step program, that empowers patients with tools to manage their addiction. In addition to the core modules, patients will have their program individualised by being prescribed supplementary programs by their treating psychiatrist.

Outpatient Programs

Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program- This program serves to support patients who have recently been discharged from an inpatient setting or who might be experiencing ongoing mood and anxiety symptoms.

Addictions Step Down Program- This program is designed for those who have recently been discharged from an inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation program. Transitioning to life and all its pressures can be difficult to manoeuvre without the right support and this program aims to support people during this difficult time.

Addiction Maintenance Program- This program helps people apply the SMART recovery principles to everyday life. This cognitive behavioural approach to addictions is supported by a growing body of evidence in international medical literature.

Dialectic Behaviour Therapy Program (DBT)- This program is a twelve month program which is designed for a specific group of patients who have severe emotional regulation problems and / or a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. Participants entering this program have to undergo an assessment period to assess suitability and commitment to the program.

Facility

The Hills Clinic, Kellyville, is the first purpose built private mental health hospital in NSW. It is set on two acres of land and is adjacent to a further two acres of open public space. Kellyville has traditionally been a semi-rural area with many market gardens, but is now one of Sydney’s largest growth areas.

“In developing the concept for this facility we wanted to retain the connection with the rural heritage of the area and so a large proportion of the land has been landscaped and left as open space”, says architect Patrick Pace.

From every room in the building you are connected to the natural surrounds. Its north facing aspect and large areas of glazing also mean that patients and staff enjoy a vast amount of natural light. In designing the building there has been a great deal of input from clinicians with extensive experience of psychiatric facilities ensuring the inherent needs for staff and patients have been considered.

Comfort, privacy and security are key aspects required by patients. It was also important to give the facility a domestic feel and to move away from the traditional institutional feel of many existing facilities. Being a brand new facility the architects have also had to meet the latest Australasian Health Facility Guidelines, making this a new benchmark for such facilities in Australia.

The Hospital will have a staged opening. In May 2011 the entire ground floor, accommodating 32 inpatients was opened. The ground floor also has a group therapy centre, patient and visitors lounge, gymnasium, commercial kitchen and dining room.

The stage one development also includes a new specialist centre for outpatient treatment. Stage two will extend the hospital’s capacity to 60 beds. As patients are likely to stay several weeks in such a facility to experience the full treatment programs available and so, patient comfort is paramount.

The stage one accommodation includes 8 large double share rooms and 16 private rooms. All rooms have individually controlled air conditioning units. All ground floor rooms also have direct access to a private patio and access to the manicured gardens that surround the building. All rooms also have private ensuites.

The Hills Clinic, Kellyville is a facility well over due and is a response to clinicians and patient demand for a higher level of care in mental health. The Hills Clinic is committed to providing excellence in care and this facility is one step towards providing this care. For more information about Twoarchitects please visit www.twoarchitects.com.au

Location

The clinic is located at 15-17 Memorial Ave Kellyville (corner of Arnold and Memorial Ave). Conveniently located close to the M2 and M7 The Hills Clinic is ideally situated to service the North West of Sydney.

Staff

Enquiries about employment should be directed to Margaret Michell (CEO) on 0419018710 or by calling our information hotline 1300 122 144 .

For more information about the programs please email your enquiry to mail@thehillsclinic.com.au or call 1300 122 144