Our health care teams provide high-quality and safe health care. By being active members of your health care team, you and your family can play a vital role in making your stay in hospital a positive experience.
Your health care team may include one or several types of health care workers when you’re in hospital. There are three main groups of health care workers: doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. There are also other staff who support your care, such as ward clerks.
No matter their role, everyone in your care team is here to support you. And remember – you are an important part of your care team too.
These managers lead the team on the ward. They help solve problems and take action if you or your family have concerns or if they are worried you are getting worse. They are here to listen and help. They often wear a striped shirt.
Nurse unit managers are also known as the NUM. Meet Kate, who leads the team at general surgical ward at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.
When you come to hospital for your maternity care, the midwifery unit manager leads the team to provide the very best care to you and your baby.
Midwifery unit managers are also known as MUMs. Meet Hazel from Fairfield Hospital.
Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners support Aboriginal patients, families and communities. They provide culturally safe care. Aboriginal Health Practitioners are an Ahpra registered profession and they provide some clinical services usually as part of the clinical multidisciplinary team.
These staff help with bookings, paperwork and general support on the ward. They can point you in the right direction if you need help. They wear light purple striped shirts.
Allied health professionals support your diagnosis, recovery and wellbeing, and help plan for a safe discharge. Allied health professionals who might be involved in your care include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, dietitians, speech pathologists, radiographers, psychologists, pharmacists and exercise physiologists, as well as their support staff who are known as allied health assistants . They wear teal uniforms or regular clothes , depending on their role.
Doctors assess your health, plan your treatment and check your progress. You may see different doctors during your stay. You can ask your doctor questions at any time. Depending on the type of doctor, they may wear green scrubs, or another colour scrubs or regular clothes.
Midwives care for people who are pregnant or have just had a baby. They answer questions, support your recovery, and make sure you and your baby are safe. They also wear dark blue scrubs. You can speak to a midwife at any time.
Nurses are often the first people you will meet on the ward. They check on you often and can help if you feel worried, unwell, or if something doesn’t feel right. You can always talk to your nurse. They often wear dark blue scrubs.
Oral health clinicians look after your teeth, mouth and gums while you are in hospital. If your care team thinks you need oral care, they will arrange this for you.
They wear white uniform shirts or regular clothes.
Staff wear photo identification that shows their name. If you are not sure who someone is or what they do, it’s always okay to ask.
We encourage all patients, their family and carers to talk openly with their health care team about their condition, health and medication history and options for treatment.
You are an important part of your health care team and there are many different people who can support you during your stay in hospital.
