Going to hospital

If you attend a hospital for medical treatment, you will attend as either an:

• Outpatient – if you receive medical treatment or care but are not ‘admitted’ to stay in the hospital. For example, you receive scans like an x-ray, need to see a specialist doctor based in the hospital or some visits to the emergency department.
• Inpatient – if you are formally ‘admitted’ to hospital by a doctor who decides that you need care in a hospital. If you need surgery or intensive care, you will usually be assigned a bed in a ward or a room. Sometimes if you attend the emergency department you can be admitted as an inpatient if you need ongoing care.

If you’re not sure whether you’re being admitted, please check with your doctor.