Coming to hospital with a disability or special requirements

If you have a disability or special requirements this page will support your visit to Bendigo Health.

Bendigo Health Disability Liaison Officer Program (DLO)

The Bendigo Health Disability Liaison Officers (DLO) are a team of staff who are a contact and advocate for people with a disability or special requirements, and their carers within the health system. DLO work with healthcare teams to ensure safe, accessible and inclusive care of people with a disability or special requirements.

The Disability Liaison Officer can enable you to access:

COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Vaccination
Help if you have received a positive COVID-19 test or need to self-isolate
Health services that are not related to COVID-19
Plan for a stay in hospital for any reason
Provide education and promote disability awareness throughout the hospital

COVID-19 Vaccination

Provide information about Vaccination options and support you in receiving your Vaccination
The Bendigo Health COVID-Vaccination Hub have two weekly Disability Support Clinics for people with a disability or special requirements to receive their Vaccinations. The clinic is in an accessible and quitter areas and able to meet individual’s needs (sensory, mobility, etc)
DLO’s can help you access other Vaccinations options outside of the Vaccination Hub including
- In home Vaccination if you are unable to attend the Vaccination Hub
- Sedation if required

Physical access

Patient pick up and drop off
Patient pick up and drop off zones are located at the main hospital entrance off Mercy Street and the Emergency Department entrance off Drought Street. Parking time limits are from 5-15 minutes in the pick up and drop off zones.

Entry
The main hospital entrance off Mercy Street is a revolving door. However, you can use the automatic door to the right of this entrance by pressing the green button.

There are automatic sliding doors at the Drought Street entrance.

Lifts
Public lifts are located at the main hospital entrance off Mercy Street.

If you don’t like lifts or would prefer to use stairs, go to the front desk near the main entrance and ask for security. Security staff can help you access the stairs.

Accessible toilets
Accessible toilets are located in the following areas:

Ground Floor, Atrium
Ground Floor, Cancer Centre
Ground Floor, Medical Imaging
Level 1, Specialist Clinics
Level 2, Corridor to Intensive Care Unit
Level 3, Corridor to Hospital Executive
Level 3, Women’s Health Clinics
Level 4, Wards 4A, 4B and 4C
Level 5, Wards 5A, 5B and 5C
Level 6, Wards 6A, 6B and 6C

Wayfinding
Touchscreen directory and map located on the ground floor near the main entrance off Mercy Street.

There are signs at the lifts on each level of the hospital.

Volunteer staff can help you find your way. The volunteers are dressed in red shirts. You can go to the front desk near the main entrance to ask for help.

Hospital Passport

What is the Hospital Passport?
The Hospital Passport is a form that can describe your health and care needs. The information can include your background, abilities, support needs, routines, likes and dislikes. This can make it easier for healthcare workers to know what you might need when you are in hospital.

Who can use it?
The Hospital Passport can be used to help anyone who has a disability or special requirements, including cognitive, communication or physical support needs.

How does it work?
You can create your own Hospital Passport using this form. Your family, carers or support workers can help to create your Hospital Passport. These frequently asked questions will give you some more information about how to create a Hospital Passport.

Bring you hospital passport to hospital, as this will help us to know more about you and how we can look after you.

Photo libraries

Photos of the hospital have been put into booklets to help you get ready for coming to hospital. You can look at photos of different parts of the hospital so you know what to expect when you visit.

Download Hospital photo library here.

Download Dental Services photo library here.

The photos can be downloaded separately here. You could use these for a social story or information page about coming to hospital.

Hospital Entrance	Main entrance Automatic Door Help desk Volunteer Public lifts
Emergency Department	Emergency entrance Triage Waiting area Children’s waiting area
Medical Imaging	Front desk Waiting area Changing room X-ray Ultrasound CT
Day of Surgery Admissions	Entrance Front desk Waiting area
Children's Ward	Entrance Parent's lounge Play room Waiting area Staff station Treatment room Patient room
Inpatient wards	Staff station Patient bed Call bell Patient Entertainment System Pathology staff Pathology test
Other hospital areas	Pharmacy Aboriginal Support Services Sacred Space
Community Dental Services	Outside entrance Lifts Level 7 entrance Front desk Waiting area Hallway Chair Glasses